The (Not So Slow) March Away From Landlines
from the who-needs-'em? dept
Two different studies are showing that fewer and fewer people are relying on traditional landlines, as more people become comfortable using just mobile phones or VoIP phones instead. This isn't new or surprising -- it's just that the trend keeps moving forward. What isn't addressed in the article, however, is how much of this is due to younger users? Because kids today get used to using a mobile phone as their primary communications device as they go through high school and then college -- they have absolutely no reason to get an actual landline once they leave school. It almost seems like landlines are legacy issues at this point. Last time I moved, I realized I had no need for a landline any more, and it seems like many others will probably realize the same thing. While the telcos still try to force one on you if you want DSL, it's becoming increasingly difficult to come up with good reasons to have a real landline any more. Yes, there's still the "emergency" argument -- and landlines are more robust than either VoIP or mobile phones, but for a lot of people they think the chance of needing such reliability is so remote that it's not worth the regular fees for a phone service they'll rarely use.
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Landlines vs mobiles
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cut the cord
Where we live, nearly every call we made was a local toll, going from Verizon to Ameritch territory. This made us keep a "package" that with taxes cost $45 a month.
We now have US Cellular 1000 minute package, free incomming calls, and unlimited nights and weekends starting at 7pm and a share line. It runs us $74 a month. We typically use 600 min of outgoing calls M - F before 7pm, so the plan really works well for us.
I like the fact that I never have to get up to get the phone, which I always wear, and I only have to answer the calls for me, which are very few. And lastly, I don't have to worry someone is leaving an important message for me at home, when I 'm out, and they don't bother to call my cell.
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The nature of the landline is changing
There is still a market for companies to provide wired service to homes, but not for dedicated single-service hookups. If the phone companies can morph into application agnostic bandwidth suppliers, they will be fine. If they try to hang onto their previous market as voice communication providers, they will get squeezed out.
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International Calls
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Re: International Calls
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Re: International Calls (vonage)
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Re: International Calls (vonage)
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Re: International Calls (vonage)
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Re: International Calls (vonage)
I've been using packet8 over a year now. No noticeable loss in quality. People can't tell I'm calling via voip. I'd recommend it to anyone.
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Re: International Calls (vonage)
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Re: International Calls (vonage)
The concrete, steel, and energy efficient glass in my condo building make cell phone reception not so great, so having the VOIP line is nice. The fact that the VOIP has call management included is the real kicker. I can have voip calls transferred to my cell phone transparently to the caller.
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Re: International Calls
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Re: International Calls
Also, what if you need to make a call in which you will be placed on hold for a very long time? A cell phone will die before you get to an operator. E.g. ever try to call the INS to ask questions? Ohohoho....
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Re: International Calls
http://www.vonage.com/intrates.php
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No Subject Given
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Re: International Calls
What, you've never heard of an AC charger? They come with every cell phone I've ever had. Several even come with headsets and/or speakerphones. :-}
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Re: International Calls
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Re: International Calls
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Whats a landline?
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Only have one because I'm required to.
I don't like paying extra for a home phone, especially when I usually get a better deal on a cell package (nights/weekends free, free cell-to-cell calls, free long distance).
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IP/Voip wireless to merge
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Landlines
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Re: Landlines
In New Orleans, the cell phone service was back up before the land line service. The infrastructure is easier and cheaper for the obvious reason: no wires.
Now in my house, the only reason I keep my land line is because Brinks home security (burglar alarm) uses it to automatically dial the security center in case of an intruder.
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Re: Landlines
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Emergency landline
So the "paying $30/month for emergency insurance" argument just fell by the wayside.
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