Verizon Home Phone Connect release and information thread

**willzzz** · 03-09-2011, 10:28 AM

The device injects standard PSTN voice through a hardware emulation stack. This is similar to eMTAs given by the cable companys and ATAs (terminal adapters) given by the VoIP companies. It converts your home analog voice jacks to digital and sends it via Verizon's CDMA 1X wireless network.

**alanbk** · 03-09-2011, 11:05 AM

I'm really disappointed that the caller id does not include the caller name. I had the device delivered yesterday, but have not opened it yet as it may be a show stopper. I may send it back. For a cell phone it's one thing not displaying the caller name, but on a landline, totally different. Who wants to be bothered by telemarketers during dinner?

I seem to be able to find out more from the forums than I do from verzion. Does anyone know if VZW plans on adding the caller name?

Thanks

**WaltA** · 03-09-2011, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by alanbk

Does anyone know if VZW plans on adding the caller name?

Yea, this goes back to my previous question, if when the manual says "currently doesn't", does that imply they're working on it?

**TZ617** · 03-09-2011, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by WaltA

Yea, this goes back to my previous question, if when the manual says "currently doesn't", does that imply they're working on it?

Whether anything is implied is known only to those who wrote the words. How can anyone on this forum know what someone else may have implied? Having said this, I'm sure that if you contact VZW and ask the question, their response will be totally non-committal; i.e., "We are constantly reviewing our services and policies to determine how best to support our customers. If we do decide to add this feature, you'll find out when everyone else does. Thanks for your inquiry."

**HF305** · 03-09-2011, 07:54 PM

Not holding your breath here would be the safe bet. Right now VZW doesn't even have track of the name associated with each of their numbers(*), to say nothing of the names associated with external numbers. They decided long ago not to participate in that system.

I think there are some phones that do local name lookup. You would need to enter your friends' names into the phone to match their numbers.

(*) On a family plan they don't collect the names of the family members using secondary lines. The only name they could possibly provide would be that of the account owner for all the lines in the plan, which would be potentially misleading.

**tivoman** · 03-09-2011, 11:12 PM

T-Mobile will let you change the CID info on each line. You will have to call cs to do it. I didn't know that TM did this until my first contract was renewed. Doh.. For about a 2 week period I noticed the android app "Whitepages" would show the CID for each line, when you do a reverse number look up. I thought it would show the owner info, not the CID info. So I changed my CID info to Martin McFly.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2

**skippy-skippy** · 03-10-2011, 06:06 AM

Greetings;
Question: Why can't VZW adjust the # of rings that both the calling party and HPC user hear before the call goes to voice mail? I recently picked one up and returned it due to this issue. Thy way I see it if I don't want to take a call, i.e. dinner time, why should both myself and the calling party have to wait until the 7th ring before voice mail picks up the call. AFAIC 3-4 rings is enough before going to voice mail.

**tivoman** · 03-10-2011, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by skippy-skippy

Greetings;
Question: Why can't VZW adjust the # of rings that both the calling party and HPC user hear before the call goes to voice mail? I recently picked one up and returned it due to this issue. Thy way I see it if I don't want to take a call, i.e. dinner time, why should both myself and the calling party have to wait until the 7th ring before voice mail picks up the call. AFAIC 3-4 rings is enough before going to voice mail.

It would be nice to change the number of rings, but one solution you could do during dinner time or any other times you don't want to be disturb is turn the HPC device off or set the phone ringer to silent mode.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2

**WaltA** · 03-10-2011, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by skippy-skippy

Greetings;
Question: Why can't VZW adjust the # of rings that both the calling party and HPC user hear before the call goes to voice mail? I recently picked one up and returned it due to this issue. Thy way I see it if I don't want to take a call, i.e. dinner time, why should both myself and the calling party have to wait until the 7th ring before voice mail picks up the call. AFAIC 3-4 rings is enough before going to voice mail.

Wow, another negative.

On my current landline, I have Forward If Busy/No Answer that kicks in after just 3 rings (Verizon landline allows that to be customer selectable).

With this, it will not Forward until after the 7th ring?

That means any caller would have to be patient enough to wait thru 8 or even 10 rings, before I can answer on my other number. IMHO, few callers would ever be that patient.

**WaltA** · 03-10-2011, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by TZ617

How can anyone on this forum know what someone else may have implied?

Just plain common sense?

I'm not implying, the word itself is implying. When the writer chooses to add the word "currently", they are adding to the overall meaning of the sentence that the writer has knowledge of a change already coming in the future.

True, we have no idea what the change might be. It could be as simple as adding a built-in directory/contact list to a "ver 2" of the device. Possibly linked into downloading from Backup Assistant?

IMHO, a change is definite. Its only what the change will be, is the wild speculation.

**rza49311** · 03-18-2011, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by skippy-skippy

Greetings;
Question: Why can't VZW adjust the # of rings that both the calling party and HPC user hear before the call goes to voice mail? I recently picked one up and returned it due to this issue. Thy way I see it if I don't want to take a call, i.e. dinner time, why should both myself and the calling party have to wait until the 7th ring before voice mail picks up the call. AFAIC 3-4 rings is enough before going to voice mail.

Not "completely" true.

Can I use my telephone answering machine instead of my Verizon Wireless Voice Mail with Home Phone Connect?
Yes, you can use your answering machine with Home Phone Connect. Set the answering machine to fewer rings than your current mobile device’s setting so that it picks up the call before Verizon Wireless Voice Mail engages. Alternatively, if you would like to use your Voice Mail, either turn off your home answering machine or increase the number of rings at which it’s set to pick up the call. For instructions on adjusting the ring settings for your home answering machine, please refer to the user material the manufacturer provided.

**tivoman** · 03-18-2011, 05:42 PM

Today I tested the HPC in my car and just like a cell phone, it had no problem moving from one cell tower to another. Lol

Sent from my T-Mobile G2

**TZ617** · 03-18-2011, 08:33 PM

Yes, it does work just fine in the car. Next thing I'm expecting is to read that someone has been able to switch the ESN to a regular handset! It does have "Activate Device" available on "My Account".

**JebNY** · 03-21-2011, 05:14 PM

Anyone have one of these long enough to see roughly how much extra taxes and fees are charged each month to the $19.99 fee? I'm in NY so I'm sure I will pay more than some states but just curious.

Jim...