Verizon Wireless and E! Entertainment today announced a deal that puts some of the latter’s video content on Verizon Hub, which hit stores last week (story here).
E! Entertainment will have its own channel, which is called the E! video channel, on Verizon Hub. Verizon Hub is a communications command center in the home that bridges wireline and wireless connectivity and runs on any broadband connection, whether it’s supplied by Verizon or another high-speed Internet service provider.
The Verizon Hub features touchscreen navigation, with on-demand access to the various services. Program offerings on the E! video channel include daily segments from the network’s shows “E! News,” “Daily 10” and “The Soup.”
Also today, Networks In Motion (NIM) – a wireless navigation, hyper-local search and LBS company – and Verizon Wireless announced that the Verizon Hub can synchronize locations with Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator service.
VZ Navigator provides customers with visual and audible directions to thousands of destinations, including businesses and other points of interest, along with maps of locations and the ability to share directions with others.
Because all of the billing for Verizon Hub runs through Verizon Wireless, customers need a wireless line of service with Verizon Wireless in order to take part in Verizon Hub.
In addition, customers need a Verizon Digital Voice plan for the Verizon Hub, which is $34.99 per month, as well as unlimited messaging to and from Verizon Wireless phones.
The Verizon Hub is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year agreement; additional cordless handsets, which can be placed throughout the home, are available for $79.99 each. For customers who do not own a wireless router, Verizon Wireless also offers a router to work with the Verizon Hub for $69.99.
Acme Packet said today that its Net-Net session border controllers (SBCs) are network services being used for the Verizon Hub and its subscribers.
Verizon Wireless is jointly owned by Verizon Communications and Vodafone.