February 26, 2006
Jazzing Up the Home Phone
To keep landline customers, AT&T, Verizon, BellSouth add Web access and ringtones. The WSJ reports.
"With the home phone fast becoming outmoded, traditional phone companies are moving away from basic landline service and re-creating their products as sleek new multipurpose devices featuring high-speed Internet access, electronic phone books, stock quotes and popular cellphone features such as ringtones to landlines.
-- AT&T Inc. is launching a cordless landline phone dubbed Project Jazz that allows users to make free calls over the Internet, though they still pay for calls over the phone lines.
-- Verizon Communications Inc. has launched an Internet-linked landline phone that can tell time, give local weather updates, news, stock quotes and movie listings.
-- And BellSouth Corp. is offering a new cordless home phone with a color screen. Several phone companies are also bringing popular cellphone features such as ringtones to landlines.
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