Persistent bloggers are starting to dig up nuggets of the Verizon Hub desktop phone. It appears to be a device with a cordless handset phone with a largish LCD display to one side able to display pictures and download widgets to display the time, weather, stock quotes, blah-blah... the typical code-load for phone/smart devices these days. Verizon Hub is expected to be an Internet-connected device with a touch screen and stylus interface that will require a two-year contract.
Engadget says the device is already sitting in sealed boxes at Verizon stories with a "do not open until instructed" order. It is also expected to "play nice" with Verizon Wireless phones, including picture messaging and other services (like the boring, but useful SMS text messaging). Release date might be mid-February.
This reporter will speculate and say it looks like a nice complement to a FiOS connection/bundle and/or anyone buying a triple or quad-play bundle from Verizon.
For more:
- Check out the pretty picture at the Boy Genius Report. Blog [1].
- Engadget has wee bit more data [2]
Related articles
Verizon: PSTN demise, VoIP embrace greatly exaggerated - FierceVoIP [3]
Verizon FiOS getting VoIP in early 2009 - FierceVoIP [4]
Landlines - Tell me, how does this end? - FierceVoIP [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/01/18/verizon-hub-ultra-deskphone-begins-taking-shape-on-vzw-site/
[2] http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/17/verizons-hub-ultra-deskphone-finally-coming-soon/
[3] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/verizon-pstn-demise-greatly-exaggerated-along-voip-embrace/2009-01-14
[4] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/verizon-fios-getting-voip-early-2009/2008-12-14
[5] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/landlines-tell-me-how-ends/2008-10-30