INTRODUCTION
The tag line for the Verizon Wireless Hub is "Welcome to the Home Phone Reinvented." This struck as funny coming from a wireless carrier and, at the same time, quite an interesting statement coming from one of the largest landline carriers in the country. Yes, Verizon Wireless is a separate company partially owned by Vodafone, but Verizon Communication is the majority owner. What is the Verizon Hub? It is a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) desktop touch screen smartphone which integrates with Verizon Wireless' cellular phones via text and multimedia messaging. The question that I have is whether it is a cell phone for the home or a home phone that acts as a cell phone. Let's take the Hub for a spin and find out!
WHAT'S HOT
The Hub is VoIP desktop touch screen smartphone which is custom designed by OPENPEAK for Verizon. The Hub runs OPENPEAK's OpenFrame operating system which is based on Linux. The Hub's technical specifications include:
- A 500 MHz Dual MicroPro processor
- 128 MB of RAM for storage
- 2 MB reserved for ring tones
- a 10 / 100 Ethernet Port
- 802.11 b/g wireless support
- Support for FLV, Sorenson On2, MPEG-4, and MP4 video formats -
- Support for MP3, and ADC audio formats
- A full duplex speaker phone
- Support for up to 4 1.9GHZ wireless handsets
- A 7" WVGA LCD with 16-bit color 800 x 480 resolution touch screen
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
The Verizon Hub comes with everything you need to get started. The only requirement is that you have a broadband connection and a router.
(all images link to higher resolution)
The Verizon Hub includes the base station with LCD screen, a 110 volt power adapter, a stylus, one 1.9GHZ wireless handset, a CAT 5e cable, and a manuals.
The unboxing.
THE DEVICE
The Verizon Hub is a very sleek desktop phone system.
The Verizon Hub base station and handset.The base station's speakerphone sound quality is outstanding.
This is the side of the Verizon Hub. I find the stand to be a little big; an extended base would have been better solution. A USB port and a headset jack adorn the right side of the unit. The USB port is currently not active, but Verizon has plans to use it in the future (think headset, camera, cell phone, etc...).
The back of the Verizon Hub with the OPENPEAK label. On the left another USB port, we see the 10/100 Ethernet jack, and the power supply jack.
Here is the Verizon Hub wireless handset stacked on top of a Verizon Samsung i760, a Verizon Samsung Omnia i910, and an Apple iPhone 3G. The size is definitely within the bounds of a cellular smartphone, unfortunately the handset does not have the functionality of the base unit.
The 1.9GHZ wireless handset specially designed not to interfere with your wireless WiFi network.
The back of the wireless handset with a speaker at the top for handsfree talking. The handset's speaker sound quality is good but not as good as the base station.
The left hand side of the wireless handset with the volume up/down toggle.
The front right hand side of the wireless handset with the headset jack.
