Would you juggle your family life with a Joggler?

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By Jonathan Bray and Barry Collins

Posted on 5 Mar 2009 at 08:00

O2 has launched a new internet device which it claims will become the centrepiece of family life.

Dubbed the Joggler, the device is an internet and messaging centre, which can be used to alert family members of upcoming appointments, take notes and deliver the latest news and traffic reports.

The Joggler looks like a 7in digital photo frame with an iPhone-style, 800 x 480 touch interface. The device can connect to the home network via 802.11bg or Ethernet port, although surprisingly for a mobile-phone company, there's no built-in SIM Card.

Perhaps its most standout feature is the online calendar facility. The idea is that you enter appointments into the Joggler and it texts you and other designated family members on O2 with reminders just before the event. You can also text in to find out what's in the diary on a particular date, or check the calendar on the internet.

Integration with this online calendar feature wasn't quite complete at yesterday's press unveiling and O2 didn't seem sure that it would be ready for the April launch, either.

The Joggler is also a messaging hub. Instead of scribbling notes to each other, the Joggler can receive text messsages from any UK mobile network. Customers can send 50 free SMS messages from the device every month.

The Joggler provides a bevy of information for users before they leave the house, too, including news, sport results, traffic updates and weather reports. The device has 1GB of storage and can be used to display photos and playback music and video.

The Joggler appears to have drawn inspiration from the Chumby, a device that has attracted a cult following in the US, but has yet to arrive on these shores.

The Joggler will cost £150 when it launches in April, although O2 customers on 18 or 24 month contracts can get the device for free, if they decide to forego their regular phone handset upgrade.