Verizon awarded a multi-year contract to Westell Technologies to manufacture its new “Verizon One” appliance for integrating voice, video and data services. 
The device is configured for Verizon’s “iobi Home” service that brings together telephone and online communications into one user interface. The company plans to offer Verizon One to its consumer broadband customers during the first half of 2005.
Verizon One integrates a DSL modem, 802.11g wireless router, 5.8 Ghz cordless telephone and color touch screen in a desktop appliance. The feature set includes one-touch dialing, visual voice mail, on-screen memo pad, e-mail previews, scheduled call-forwarding, real-time call management, personal calendar and address book and easily accessed updates on weather, news, sports and entertainment highlights.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.westell.com
- In September 2004, Verizon announced the market launch of “iobi Home” (pronounced eye-OH’-bee), a new control panel service that lets residential customers manage their home PSTN line, call lists, directories, calendars, email, and voice mail using web tools. Iobi can be accessed in any one of three ways – by software downloaded on a personal computer; by logging on to the iobi Web site; or by telephone using a voice-recognition portal. The computer-based software provides the most robust functionality, including on-screen caller ID, online call direction and tracking of calls and voice messages. Using their mouse, consumers can answer, forward or send a call to voice mail in real time; find out where the caller is on a pop-up map; store the number in an address book; play a voice message; and forward voice messages as sound files via e-mail. Pricing is set at $7.95 per month. Verizon Home Voice Mail is recommended for full product functionality.
