Verizon ships, prices Hub touchscreen phone early

Verizon its own schedule by shipping its Hub to stores early. Originally slated for Sunday, the device is available today and is Verizon's attempt to revitalize the declining home field. The hardware uses an Ethernet VoIP connection to make calls and shares unified calendars, contacts and messaging with four cellphones along with Internet-based Verizon services like GPS mapping and V CAST news data. A touchscreen makes all the information visual, including voicemail, news widgets and a digital photo frame mode. Pricing has also been revealed for the Hub and puts the phone at $200 after a rebate and signing a special, two-year Digital Messaging plan that for $35 gives unlimited calling from the Hub within the US and Canada. While a single cordless handset is bundled with the phone, extra ones are also available for $80. A router with Wi-Fi and wired connections is also available separately for $70, though any standard third-party router should work.