Verizon launches Verizon Hub VOIP Phone

Verizon Wireless has launched a VOIP-based, Linux-powered home phone, the Verizon Hub. The Hub plugs into a home broadband line and acts as a family calendar, limited Web browser, messaging center, digital picture frame and, of course, a phone.

The Hub is based on OpenPeak's OpenFrame design. The OpenFrame or the Hub - is an 8-inch, 800x480 touchscreen device. It has a single DECT 6.0 cordless phone that snaps into the base.
The Hub's home screen shows floating, Web-based widgets such as a calendar and the weather, along with details about missed calls and visual voice mail.

Verizon dressed the OpenFrame up with their own proprietary services. The device can stream movie trailers and other video from V CAST; send directions to phones using VZ Navigator; track children's cell phones using Chaperone; view local traffic information, and send and receive text, picture, and video messages. The Hub doesn't require that you get your broadband from Verizon, though – it works with any Internet connection.

By touching buttons on the OpenFrame's panel, you can sync it with the various contact lists and calendars in your life, view TV schedules, send an IM or SMS, check the weather, surf the Web, watch streaming video, play music or do a range of other things. The devices are based on Freescale MX31 processors, with two 600-MHz ARM11 chips doing the heavy lifting.

Verizon has not announced pricing or service plans for the Verizon Hub. The product goes on sale on Feb 1.

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