Verizon officially released the Hub during SuperBowl Sunday but we've known about the VOIP packing base station for quite some time. What Verizon is aiming for with the Hub, is just that, a central communications device that's beefier than your standard cordless phone. VOIP replaces the aging land line phone and a 7-inch touchscreen gives the Hub smartphone functionality albeit in a form factor that is far from pocket friendly.

While calling loved ones may be the ultimate use for the Hub, widgets that aggregate data to and from your cell phone such as weather, contacts, text messages, calendars, traffic reports and maps give the device all the functionality of a smartphone and pricing of one too. Verizon will sell you the Hub for $200 (after a 50 mail-in rebate) on a 2 year contract. The only available plan at $35 a month nets you unlimited calling and texting from the device. Unfortunately, you cannot buy the Hub without having a pre-existing plan from Verizon Wireless. Would-be subscribers must also live in an e911 capable area as the devices uses your broadband connection for VOIP functionality. 

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