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The Home Hub Reinvented, I Miss Audrey
Posted By : Gary Galvin Posted On : April 6th, 2009
Topics : New Technology
My first job out of college was with 3Com in Chicago, IL and I was part of a team that brought a new internet product to life – Audrey. Audrey was to do for the home life what Palm Pilot did for the business life. It was supposed to be the central hub for the home. It had everyone’s calendar, email, browse the web, to-do list, you can leave notes, gather your favorite news, stocks and scores, view and store recipes and shop online. We went to market in October 2000 and it sold for $499. I remember being so excited to go to Best Buy and see it on the shelves and say to myself “I helped build that”. Heck, we even got on Oprah. Looking back this was a great first job out of college. I got to live the dot-com boom, travel the country from dot-com start up to dot-com start up, stay in 5-star hotels, eat at fancy restaurants, work very late and long hours and most importantly I got to be a part of team that invented this product. There were a lot of smart people on our team who came from all over the country to work on this. I got to work with the channel team (I still miss those folks). We designed and developed web channels so people could browse from cached website to website.
Ergo Audrey
But Audrey was short lived. Shortly after launch the dot-com bust began. We began to see our content providers go out of business one by one. People began losing trust in the internet and were not buying Audrey. But we felt the biggest issue was that we were ahead of the times. Consumers were still buying buying their first computers and were getting online for the first time. So buying a fancy internet appliance was not something conceivable and so 3Com cut Audrey and the Internet Appliance division.
Verizon Hub
Just recently I began seeing TV commercials about Verizon Wireless’ new phone – the Verizon Hub. I nearly jumped out of my chair when I saw the first commercial. It was almost like seeing Audrey all over again. I have to admit that although envious I am excited to see the Hub launch. The Hub is meant to serve as the family hub – similar to Audrey’s approach. Yes, Audrey was ahead of the times but I am convinced that it paved the way for products like The Hub and hopefully more to come in the future. I also believe that everything happens for a reason so because of Audrey’s failure I have been able to start up my own business. I learned a lot during my days at 3Com and I thank the guys at 3Com and especially Jen, Daniel and Chris for showing me the ropes, giving a rookie a chance and being a pretty darn good team.
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Karl Kapp
Loved the Audrey concept, I really think it could be brought back. The thing that makes Audrey better than Verizon is the fact that it could fit on the Fridge! Great idea, the fridge is the hub of the family not the phone. Also, wireless really would have made it more effective (not much wireless back then). I’d buy an updated version in a minute, the team you were on did a great job.
noel lewis
This is a long shot – Ihave an Audrey but it’s failing and I want to fix it if possible. It’s a wonderful item,lost without her! The e mail screen comes up but vanishes and I can’t stabilise it. The screen works perfectly with internet and other functions. Can you advise or point me to a Help area? I recall there was an Audrey site with lots of users giving How To advice but I can’t find it. Thanks in anticipation…
Gary Galvin
Noel,
Because it’s been a long time I forget the ins and outs of the appliance. There are a lot of Audrey Hacking sites out there. If you Google that term I am sure you could find a forum or website that can answer your questions.
Happy New Year.