Verizon Hub: Your Next Internet Home Phone?

You may have heard about the new Verizon Hub, coming out today (February 1st). In fact, maybe you even read the press release we posted just last week. What is it? Let’s see…Verizon describes it as a “new touch screen home phone system designed to replace old-style home phones with a souped-up home communications system, bridging wireline and wireless connectivity in one simple service, that runs on any broadband connection -- whether supplied by Verizon FiOS Internet or DSL or any other high-speed service provider.”

What does that mean? Basically, Verizon wants to give families an easy way to communicate and manage calendars, contacts etc. from one device. You will be able to check traffic and weather, get driving directions, look up phone numbers, preview movie trailers…the Hub will even send you a text message to remind you of a meeting. The family can stay updated even if you’re not home, as you can make changes on the companion website and it will be updated immediately. It runs on your existing broadband connection and no, you don’t need to be a Verizon Wireless subscriber to use it.

Will it be a hit? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, head on over to Engadet for a hands-on review.