Verizon Wireless’ pricey new home-phone service
January 26th, 2009, 10:06 am · 10 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
A new home-phone service is coming to Orange County (well, to everywhere in the nation, but I write about O.C.).
It’s from a familiar name in the telephone business: Verizon. But instead of the old-school landline Verizon, this is Verizon Wireless, the cell phone company. It plans to start selling an interesting new touch-screen telephone plus service beginning February 1. Here’s what “The Hub” looks like (click to enlarge):
The Hub reminds me of the home-of-the-future idea that tech companies have been trying to pitch for more than a few decades. As you can see from the image, the Hub is essentially a mini-computer with one-click access to contacts, calendar, traffic reports, local pizza numbers, movie information, etc. There are a lot of snazzy features, including the ability to watch movie trailers, turn it into a digital picture frame and send and receive text messages. It offers many of the same features as a Verizon Wireless cell phone. Maybe the time is finally right for this networked device?
As more consumers have dropped their home phone line in favor of depending solely on a cell phone, the Hub looks like an attempt to entice the rest of us to drop our landline.
The service is based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), so users will need broadband Internet service.
Then there’s the price… You’ll need a chunk of cash to get started. Expect to pay $235 upfront ($199.99 for the phone after a $50 rebate and $34.99 activation fee).
Plus you must commit to a 2-year-contract. But the initial $235 plus $35/month for service is way more than some people pay for home phone service. So, this isn’t about saving money. This is really about replacing home phone service with, um, newer home phone service and a fancy phone.
There are many other ways to save money, including canceling home phone service and relying on your cell phone. Switching to a cheaper VoIP provider, such as the nearly-free Skype, Packet 8 ($25/month), or Vonage ($25/month). Even Verizon’s own VoIP service, VoiceWing, is cheaper, at $24.95 for unlimited calling.
Or there’s even a similar, much cheaper service from T-Mobile. Its @Home phone service (reviewed here in June 2008) is $9.99/month. It doesn’t include a phone, but offers a converter box that lets you plug in your home’s current phone. Caveats: You must be a T-Mobile wireless subscriber and you need broadband Internet.
More from the web:
- Verizon Launches ‘Hub’ VOIP Phone (PC Magazine)
- Verizon’s Hub: Another way to fight iPhone churn? (ZD Net)
- Why the Verizon Hub Just Might Work (Zatz Not Funny)
- AT&T improves cell service in 5 Orange County cities January 22, 2009
- Photos: Boost adds $50 phone for new $50 plan January 22, 2009
- SRS improves sound quality in cell phonesJanuary 21, 2009
- O.C. firm enhances cell-phone service at inauguration ‘tenfold’ January 19, 2009
- Boost Mobile adds ‘tax-free’ $50/month unlimited plan January 14, 2009
- Power up: Different takes on travel chargersJanuary 13, 2009
- Text a message to help feed America’s hungry January 13, 2009
- What happens when everything is on a cell phone January 12, 2009
- Pictures of the Prada 2 phone January 9, 2009
- Powermat: Charging up without cables — or electricity! January 7, 2009
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I have been tryiing t get through on their lines. All busy. I guess I’m not the only one sick of Cox?
http://www.viatalk.com/
Been using Via Talk for two years now and only pay 199.99 for the whole YEAR.
I’ve been waiting for a $235.00 home phone I can watch advertisements on…
really!!!
Wow, a phone with a single button to open my contacts, the ability to buy movie tickets and a calculator (just to name a few). I think I’ve heard about this before…Oh wait, it’s called an iPhone.
I already have one of these, it’s my smartphone. Stupid idea.
BTW, Dina, what’s wrong with Cox? We’ve had them for our landline for 5+ years with 0 problems.
I’m waiting for the new Ooma telo later this year…
I used to pay about $9.95 per month for Vonage. Now I don’t have a home phone
2 year contracts are for suckers. Get the magic jack for only $40 for the entire year, then only $20 for each year after that. Don’t let the phone companies take you for a ride.
I ordered the Magicjack, and even obtained a local (Placentia) number. I returned the device within 30 days as the calls were very choppy. I attempted several times during the 30 days to fine tune the MJ with help from unofficial MJ forums, and help from MJ themselves, but to no avail.
We already were subscribed to Teleblend VOIP, but I was looking to cut costs even further. The Magicjack device just did not work for us.
Teleblend is not a bad deal. $15.95 per month, plus tax for unlimited local, local toll, long distance and a bunch of features such as caller id, voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding and many others we do not use.
We have kept our AT&T local line, with basic measured rate service which was the minimum service required for their $10.00 a month DSL service.
http://www.teleblend.com
The Gadgetress may want to check with Verizon’s p.r. flack’s and find out why Verizon is killing it’s VoiceWing VOIP service effective March 31, 2009?
Verizon actually does not operate VoiceWing, rather, the service is purchased from DeltaThree and rebranded as Verizon VoiceWing.
See the link for a recent 8-K filing by DeltaThree regarding the service cancellation:
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/090122/dddc.ob8-k.html
Not that this move has anything to do with the new product introduced by Verizon Wireless.