Verizon Debuts "iobi" -- Linking Web and PSTN

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.



Broadband service is not required; iobi Home works with dial-up access on regular phone lines.



Iobi Home is now available in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine to Verizon residential telephone customers. Iobi Home will be offered in additional areas next month and across the country soon. Pricing is set at $7.95 per month. Verizon Home Voice Mail is recommended for full product functionality.



Later this year, an enhanced version of the Internet-based service - iobi Professional - will be available to businesses; and Verizon will also launch iobi Enterprise, with additional features designed to support the needs of the largest businesses. http://www.verizon.com