The number of people shying away from traditional land line telephones is increasing. According to a survey recently conducted by the National Institute of Health, almost one in every six households is wireless only.
More and more people are relying solely on their mobile communication systems.
Verizon Wireless recently released the Verizon Hub, a communication command center for the home that bridges traditional land line and wireless systems, and runs on any broadband connection.
“It is really a new way of thinking about the home phone, it is a suped-up home communications system,” said Carolyn Schamberger, public relations manager for Verizon Wireless. “There is great connectivity to the Verizon wireless handset, and all you need is a broadband connection and a power source.”
The Verizon Hub can be fully integrated with the family’s Verizon Wireless phone plan. Messages, directions and calendar reminders can even be sent to individual phones via text message directly from the Hub, Schamberger said.
The Verizon Hub features a Verizon wireless handset and a customizable digital touch screen that allows users to apply wallpapers, photographs, address books, ringtones and screensavers, just like a traditional cellular phone.
“The touch screen allows families to keep a calendar, look up business addresses and send turn by turn directions to family member’s phones that use VZ navigator,” she said. “Basically any function that you can have on a Verizon mobile phone you can have on the hub right in your own home. You can even look up cooking instructions, or check traffic conditions and the latest weather forecasts.”
According to Schamberger, the hub also features V Cast service to watch videos and movie trailers.
“If a family wants to look up what movies are playing they can not only see the times and places, but they can view a trailer of the movie as well,” she said.
Verizon also recently announced that content from Tennessee-based Scripps Networks, the producers of HGTV, Food Network, DIY and Fine Living Network, including recipes and design tips, will be available on the Verizon Hub.
Schamberger has been using the Hub in her own home and said she finds the calendar feature particularly helpful.
“If something is on the calendar, I can have it send a reminder message to my mobile or my husband’s mobile to remind him to pick up my son or daughter from soccer practice. It is really convenient,” she said.
The Verizon Hub can be added to any Verizon Wireless plan for $199.99 after rebate, and an additional $34.99 per month, Schamberger said.
Aside from the additional conveniences, the Hub also features traditional caller ID, call waiting, remote access to voice mail, speed dial, three-way calling and unlimited calling to numbers in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
