HUB is discontinued, we are screwed.

[searchforwisdom]

I had no idea the "HUB" existed until I went into verizon looking to get cell phones for me and my wife.  I was convinced by the sales clerk that the HUB was a good investment.  I bought one.

I really do like the concept of the HUB.  It is much better than a regular house phone, with all the services and information it could provide.

However, I have had nothing but problems with my HUB.  It always loses connection with my wi-fi.  When this happens I do not receive calls, cannot make calls, get no information, and the problem will never fix itself unless I restart it.  If I dont realize its not connected then I could go hours or days with no home phone and not know it.  

It also does other things like have a very poor sound quality.  Half the time it doesnt ring when receiving OR making calls.  So you call someone, and it doesnt ring.  There is simply silence while you wait for someone to answer.  That wouldnt be so bad if it wasnt for the fact that half the time its not even calling the person so you sit there listening to silence wondering if it is actually making a call or not.

Now that the HUB has been discontinued, we are screwed.  The only thing I was holding on to was for an updated model that had all the bugs worked out.  Or for a big fix to the operating system.  something to get all these kinks out.  Maybe some good new features that would make this all worth it.  But alas, there is now no light at the end of the tunnel.  No more real work will be put into this.  They are just going to wait for those of us who have it to die out so they can forget about this contraption.

Verizon should at least let us out of our contracts for this thing so we can at least cancel it without penalty.  I mean I signed the contract under the assumption that this technology would be continually developed, not abandoned.  

I am very disappointed in Verizon for trapping in us in a contract with the same device they have abandoned.

[drayegon]

What is this the Hub is no longer working or available or what Has Verizon stopped using it. WHAT???

I looked and this has been on here since 940 am which even at PDT^ means quite a while on Oct 1 2009 so what gives here.

I am seeing that something new is being killed off at the start or is this post totally wrong?

{keep it courteous}

dray

[searchforwisdom]

My post is correct.  Here is a link to one of MANY articles on Verizons abandonment of our equipment.   Google HUB discontinued if you need more articles.     http://www.dailytech.com/Verizon+Kills+Hub+After+Eight+Months/article16394.htm

[caaguirre]

I'm so happy I found your post.  I couldn't agree with you more!  My Husband and I basically had the same exact experience  as yours. I really liked the features and I so wanted it to work, but features mean nothing if the phone itself doesn't work.   In the past 6 months since we got the HUB, we have had nothing but problems.  We had to give up our home security system, because we gave up our landline to get the HUB.  It has not functioned properly the entire time we've had it.  We've been through rounds of calls to customer service, each ending worse than the previous call.  They get flat out rude once you start talking about canceling the service.  They won't waive the early termination fee at all which seems criminal since they are not standing up to their end of the contract of providing a service that works.  What I get from every call is "you signed the contract, you agreed to the terms", so in other words, as you said, we are screwed.  Yes, I agreed to pay for a phone service and I expect it to work.  Today after a phone call with them in which I thought I may have been in the middle of a nervous breakdown because of how ignorantly I was being treated, I was told that my internet was not working at high enough speed to get the HUB running properly.  So, Now I will pay an extra $20.00 per month to my internet provider in hopes that this thing will work.  Why is this the first time I've been told this?  Anyway, after upgrading my internet, I finally heard a dial tone for the first time on it.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  You might want to check out the speed of your internet and see if that might be the problem.  If this fails,  I swear, I will cancel, pay the idiotic fee, but I will end up cancelling all of my verizon cell lines as they expire.  It's just bad customer service and it will end up biting them.

[louiss]

Well you had me worried for a minute I had to call customer support and find out the deal

It is sad that the sales of the hub have stopped but the service will continue so will updates and so on

reasons for stopping the sales to many unexpected problems old routers , some internet providers blocked the hub because they have their own services they want you use stupid stuff like that

what is Verizon doing about it .... Well they have  the hub2 in the making witch will have all the same plus more features and doesn't run on your internet it is over the new wireless network that should start somewhere around 2010 and the hub2 probably around 2011 about perfect timing for you contract to have expired or close to expiring depending when you got in

me personally am looking forward to that when it happens cause I love my hub and if I can get a betterone  that doesn't rely on my cable staying up like during a power outage of something similar dude I am so ready

P.S. don't mind my spelling please not one of my strong suites.... wow the spell check had a tough one with me lol

[searchforwisdom]

To Louiss:

I know you are just repeating what you were told by the customer service rep, but let me give you the reality of the situaiton.

There will be no updates.   They are no longer going to use resources to develop a disconinued device.  This has already been stated.  There were several applications that were being made, and they have all been scrapped.  They were supposed to be out already.  Why on earth would you think that they have any motivation for innovating a discontinued product.

The HUB 2 you say?  I hope you realize there was already a HUB 2 protoype out several months ago, and it was scheduled to come out before the end of the year before verizon pulled the plug.  It sounds like they told you they will start to develop one, but that has already come and gone.  Here is an article back in APRIL of a hands on for the HUB 2!!!!!!   http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/16/verizons-iphone-like-hub-2-hands-on/

Listen, its not your fault that they lied to you but you really need to look at the whole situation and dont let them spin you.

[invalid]

I needed to step back for a while to cool off about this situation.  Now that I've given it time, I still think it is appropriate to start educating myself about class-action lawsuits. 

A contract is a 2-way street!

[Zehan]

Guys, of course Verizon will still support the HUB. Just because it's discontinued doesn't mean Verizon will leave you out in the cold! Think about it, why do you think Verizon still services/warranties phones after they've stopped being manufactured? You paid for a service, and Verizon will continue to provide it. Try to have a little faith...

[searchforwisdom]

You only need faith if the facts are not on your side. And the fact is that verizon has discontinued the hub and is no longer SUPPORTING it. Yes they will keep the dail tone on because they are getting our money. But they are not going to update the OS in any real way. They won't come out with more applications and they won't be coming out with the hub 2. They do not update software for phones that are no longer made. You are wrong.

[Zehan]

Actually, they DO come out with new software for discontinued phones. Frequently. I should know, I install them all the time, as I'm a tech in the store. You should check your facts; you don't know as much as you think you do.

[briarlind]

We have had the HUB since last Spring and NOTHING but trouble since.  We are on the 2nd HUB unit and 4th phone.  Besides all the problems described in the message board, yep all apply to us as well, our handheld battery units won't keep a charge  .  So Verizon keeps sending us new phones.  FINALLY, we had enough. 

 I was in the Verizon Wireless store to upgrade cell phones and asked about my options for the HUB.  They suggested that I  call tech support and request a waiver to release us from our contract due to the technical difficulties we have had with our phone.  GREAT ADVICE!  I called as suggested and they waived the fee that would have been charged if we discontinued service.  So now, we have purchased new cordless phones and I will call to Verizon to re-establish our landline.  Then once re-connected and ported, I will call to discontinue the HUB service with all fees waived.  If you disconnect prior to re-establishing the landline and porting, you will lose your phone number. 

Good luck to all who continue on with this phone.  Personally, there was no way we could continue with this piece of garbage product and retain our sanity!!!  Verizon has done a good job of providing support and we appreciate the waiver of fees.  Sometimes new technology is a home run and sometimes a complete bust...

[searchforwisdom]

To Briarlind:

That is very good news!!! I understand your frustration, and I am definitely going to try what you did to get out of the fees.

To Zehan:

Alright  "Tech at the store" please tell me what new applications / updates are being made for the HUB?  What substantial innovations are being developed for the software?  Or to the hardware for the HUB 2?  Oh wait, the HUB 2 is no more....

Verizon has to service/honor the warranty of the phone, because we are still paying a monthly bill and stuck to a contract.  What is meant by support is the continuing innovation and evolution of software and hardware.  Its not just that the HUB was discontinued, its that the HUB 2 and all other applications that were supposed to come out for it have ceased to be developed.

 Verizon has found that it was not profitable enough for them to make home phones.  Thats fine, but to bind us to the contract after all the problems and now the abandonment of the project, I feel is very wrong.  Its been bad enough going through 4 HUBS and still experiencing bizarre issues to this very day; but to then have Verizon say "well, we are done with this thing" should be enough for them to let the small group of people who have these to at least make the decision whether or not to continue to support the HUB, as Verizon has already done. 

Its a weak argument to tell us to "have a little faith."  Webster.com defines faith as "belief that is not based on proof."  Ya, that sounds about right "Tech at the store."

[Zehan]

If the only reason you bought the HUB is because you expected it to be upgraded to a newer model with new apps, perhaps you should have waited for the newer model to be released. Obviously you were satisfied with the services the HUB offered at the time of purchase, or you wouldn't have signed the contract. The contract is not contingent on new services being developed; Verizon can't be expected to let you out of it just because they dropped further development. If I buy a Storm 2 under contract and they decide to scrap any further Storm releases, I shouldn't be excused from my obligation. I know you feel abandoned, but the bottom line is you bought a new, 1st generation technology and got burned. It happens all the time; look at Betamax vs. VCR, Laserdisc vs. DVD, HDDVD vs. Blueray, etc. [edit].

{please keep your posts courteous}

[searchforwisdom]

Well Zehen A.K.A.  "Tech at the store" you are wrong again.

I was not satisfied with the services of the HUB at the time of purchase, because I just purchased it.   I have had it failed on a hardware level as well as a software level many times over the MONTHS that I have had it.  I have had 4 hubs because the hardware broke.  And I still to this very day have issues with the software bugging out in a variety of ways.  

Your comparison of the storm 2 is not correct.  Its not that they just scrapped this phone, its that its the ONLY home phone verizon sells so they abandoned the whole project.  It would be the same if Verizon stopped selling cell phones.  I would not want to stay with a  carrier if they no longer had any cell phones.  There would be no future, no real upgrades, no new models, no reason to stay.   That is what happened with the home phone division which is or was the HUB.  

Your comparison of the Betamax vs. VCR etc. is also garbage.  If the HUB is Betamax, what is the VCR then?  What is the DVD?  What is the Blueray???? They have provided no alternative.  In all those situations there were 2 technologies that performed similar tasks.  In this situation there is not another home phone for me to buy.  Just that I have to stay locked in for 2 years only to slowly have my HUB fall apart and become totally obsolete.  I cant even buy a new one if I wanted, I just have to pay to get it repaired once the warranty is up.

[edit]

{please keep your posts courteous}

[jacoby46]

I purchased the Hub in the Spring of 2009 and I have sent back a phone as well as 2 batteries and a cradle.  My Hub constantly freezes and now two of my phones will not work at all.  One of them is completely dead and won't even light up in the cradle.  I have had problems with no dial tone, phone going dead with no warning, dialing a number and nothing happens, etc.

I am down to one phone now and I want to send this whole thing back.  They let me switch from my Verizon landline to the Hub with no penalty, because it was still with Verizon.  Now I would like to reverse this.  I am also upset because I have to spend money for new landline phones.  We should all get our money back for this piece of junk. 

Not to mention, since I switched over to the Hub, they can never find me as a customer and I have had all kinds of trouble logging on to the internet.  My Verizon One bill went away and they can't seem to link my Fios to my wireless account anymore.  It has been a frustrating road and I am done.

[doomboyt]

They should atleast Open Source it or something, Maybe let us port it to Skype or a PBX or something.

[searchforwisdom]

I apologize to the moderator for not being courteous.   

So you see now, the HUB forum has been completely eliminated and this thread moved to the subforum "Broadband, Netbook, and mifi devices."  Well, at least they made it so less people will witness the problems we are having.  Although this movement of the forum just solidifies my point of the fact that we have been abandoned as HUB users.  They even took away our forums now.  How sad is that?

[Zehan]

I'm so sorry for your experience. Obviously you know better than anyone else what's REALLY going on. Even the forums are in on it!