Comments on: Verizon hub ultra-deskphone begins taking shape on VZW site

By: Chris Carruth

Chris Carruth — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:57:15 +0000

I ran the original screenphone project for GTE in the mid 90s, and this is the result (same look and feel, same content but more expensive) 10+ years later. In the 90s, the research and consumer results were very solid, in the 90s, would say a bit too little a bit too late.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:17:01 +0000

I purchased the HUB along with two additional handsets and love it. I am able to view movies in my area along with up to 2 trailers, purchase movie tickets in 15 seconds, send directions to my Verizon DARE phone, look up the 5 day extended forcast in numerous areas, play games, watch the news, find recipes, look up phone listings and send addresses to my GPS, listen to the raido played in all major cities in the US, send photos to the devise via the internet or my cell phone using them as a screen saver/photo frame. In addition, I have priced digital photo frames from budget stores all costing $99 to $279. The HUB at $150 and ability to call anywhere in the US, $34 is not a bad deal with all it has to offer. From my PC or the HUB I am able to forward calls to my cell or other phones. Blackberry and I-Phones all cost much more for what the HUB and my Dare does. Theses are just a few of the features! WAY TO GO VERIZON!!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:36:43 +0000

WOW!! This is crazy… I guess i am spoiled by my VOIP provider.. hmmm

if you are paying more than 25 to 30 per month, you are paying too much. If you are paying for calling outside of the country, you are probably getting rip off. Please look into your options. Verizon is betting that people are not going to get educated on what options are out there, that are more affordable.

I use Globalinx for 29.99 per month… Not only do i have unlimted local and long distance to the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands… I also get calling to the UK, Italy, France, Spain,China, Australia, Portugal, and Ireland. (we are about to add Sweden, Nigeria, South Korea, Norway, and Finland) … I can also make a very smooth (non-choppie) video call to my neices and my grandparents from anywhere in the world.

I went out of the country, took my videophone with me. When i got to the hotel, i plug it up to there internet and i had by US number there in the hotel. The VideoPhone will change the way we communicate.

And on top of all that, the video phone is cheaper then Verizon HUB and i don’t have to have verizon wireless service to get it. Check it out

http://www.globalinx.com/?bNew=True&strRIN=L356818

Ryan -

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:18:15 +0000

How ’bout giving us phones/software/firmware that isn’t held down not allowing us to do anything other that what Verizon allows us to do according to BREW!!

give me a real browser (Opera Mini), Flash, access to websites like XM, Last.fm, etc., video sites and the ability to download what I want to MY phone.

By: NOThtckid

NOThtckid — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:54:08 +0000

Like I aid, it’ targeted at the vonage crew, it’s more of a device merging landline Verizon with wireless Verizon.

whatever makes you happy, but it IS cool, the one hting I think it needed was a handset that opened to a full qwerty device like an ENV2.

again, this isn’t a device for THIS crowd that reads this blog, almost none of us here have landline phones. but if you do, it’s a good option instead of just some plain jane crappy panasonic base station IMO.

By: EPS

EPS — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:43:46 +0000

@vaxick: Because clearly the reason Verizon’s phone lineup lacks luster is because of this device.

By: vaxick

vaxick — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:55:29 +0000

Thanks Verizon for releasing a product nobody will care about instead of some good phones.

By: chaddyd

chaddyd — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:32:36 +0000

This looks like something we would have seen in a sci fi movie from the 80s/90s. I like the idea – could be a bit sleeker.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:45:10 +0000

Why does this remind me of the Amstrad Emailer that was a monumental flop at least 10 years ago?

The idea never caught on then (especially when the suppliers suddenly started using it as a means to SPAM home owners in their own home) and I can’t see this catching on now especially if there is going to be a charge to use it.

By: backbeat

backbeat — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:15:40 +0000

^Put down the mushrooms and step away slowly.

By: Chris Meyers

Chris Meyers — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:50:06 +0000

Was that the “ripoff-cough”?!?! Dude who does that anymore? Did we have the “ripoff cough” in LA? Noo, we had guns and home made bombs though. I think the “ripoff cough” is officially dead.

LOL Hahaha

By: backbeat

backbeat — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:48:30 +0000

@chris mayers who said: “get unlimited calls on both your landline **plus your Wifi UMA equipped cell phone**”

This, its limitation.

By: Chris Meyers

Chris Meyers — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:41:29 +0000

Uh $34 a month? *cough*ripoff*cough* T-Mobile charges $9.99 a month and that box allows you to use ANY cordless phone and get unlimited calls on both your landline plus your Wifi UMA equipped cell phone when your home.

By: Chester

Chester — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:38:25 +0000

This base station would be nice if you could ‘drop in’ your existing cell phone handset for charging and use your mobile line via bluetooth with another cordless phone(s).

By: backbeat

backbeat — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:37:39 +0000

It could be interesting _if_ the list of compatible phones was much more extensive, to include smartphones, Blackberrys, or even non-Verizon Wirless phones. This infant product needs to grow up damned fast if it’s going to survive out there.

By: joe mercer

joe mercer — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:11:09 +0000

You can almost hear the clattering plastic, as you pick up the receiver.

By: Chad

Chad — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:09:31 +0000

where are the details of what this thing does? I clicked on the picture and all I get is a list of accessories.

I think I’m interested, but not sure.

By: NotHTCkid

NotHTCkid — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:51:37 +0000

its cool what it can do, it has GPS, wifi, can send place messages to any device, it can send and recive text messages and picture messages. it can find movies by you, then play the trailers.

it’s really quiet interesting.
with a 34 dollar a month pricepoint it’s looking directly at vonage to be taken out, but add some of the verizon features with it.

If i HAD to have a home phone, I would get one, but as it stands…I don’t need it.

By: likeabite

likeabite — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:47:17 +0000

Looks good

By: Tyrone D.

Tyrone D. — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:46:55 +0000

Only thing I have to say is, “Damn that thing is ugly!”

By: kermit24

kermit24 — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:39:40 +0000

Wow, it took them a long time to finally release this!

AT&T Home Manager anyone? Looks similar.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:33:07 +0000

No, I’m not excited.