[CES] Verizon’s Internet Appliance: Good Enough To Switch Providers?

About 7 years ago I moderated a Supersession here at CES, when Internet appliances were all the rage. Many of my panelists, including the Internet appliance guru at 3Com, were out of jobs by the next year.

Internet appliances never took off because the infrastructure wasn't there. Now it is, and I've seen the first decent solution since the fated 3Com Audrey many years ago.

Verizon's new Verizon One is an all-in-one unit with DSL modem, wireless router, cordless phone, built-in VOIP, a generous touchscreen and a suite of applications that makes this the perfect device for any kitchen nook.

News, weather, sports, traffic the family calendar -- all right there on the touchscreen, easily modified onscreen or via Verizon's Internet portal (verizon.com/vzone). This little gem, which supports five 5.8 GHz phone is practically free -- $149, but you have to be a Verizon DSL subscriber.

You can use the Verizon portal to upload photos and display them as a slide show on the touchscreen. The company is working on CCTV applications, and others that provide added value to the product.

Forget it, I won't switch from my cable service just to get this phone, but I would switch my VoIP provider to get my hands on this baby. In Q4, Verizon will allow users to bring their own broadband, and still get access to the Verizon One and all of the related services -- that is, if you subscribe to Verizon's VoIP service. It's about $5 more than Vonage, but I'll take it.

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-Julie Jacobson, CE Pro editor-at-large

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