Comments on: Hey Verizon, Your Hub Needs Android

By: Randy Bu

Randy Bu — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:22:24 +0000

Verizon may or may not have four android phones in the pipe. All rumors at this point, though certainly they’ll be launching at least one android phone in the coming months, hopefully soon (Sholes… PLEASE).

But I’ve seen nothing at all indicating Verizon has made any kind of bet on Android or has an android “strategy” per se. On the contrary, they seem to be on the trailing edge of technology development/adoption with handsets and handset OS’s. And while they hate the idea of it, I increasingly view ALL of the carriers as dumb pipes and wouldn’t trust them with ANY kind of product offering/strategy. If they’re willing to subsidize my phone to get a contract, super. But beyond that, I cringe at the idea of ANY of the carriers actually having a worthwhile product strategy that I would want to adopt wholesale.

By: BackInAction

BackInAction — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:59:50 +0000

I’m fairly certain that some of the newer cordless phone “systems” have the ability to use your cell carrier for calls. I think I saw one the other day at Target. Don’t know the details, but it seemed like a good idea. Especially for homes which have cellular “dead zones” within them (like basements, interior lead-lined rooms, etc.).

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:18:21 +0000

I think the wireless phone manufacturers are missing out on an opportunity to wean more people off of their land lines. When I first saw the Verizon Hub I thought it was going to be the answer but it is too expensive and too sophisticated. IMHO, what they need to come out with is a simple wireless base station with standard cordless phone type extensions. (The operative word here being “simple”.) The base station would connect to the wireless carrier and you could have regular cordless extensions throughout the home.

The Touch Revolution sounds like it is on the right track, but all the additional features (Entertainment, Information, Monitor/Control) sound expensive to me. They need to segment the product and offer an entry-level device that includes just the “Communication” features.