Landline vs. Cellphone
Wireless-only telephone users have moved past their landline-only brethren, according to data released by the Centers of Disease Control. More Americans have disconnected their home telephones in place of a 24/7 cellphone, prompting the question: Do we still need landlines, and if so, why?
There’s safety, perhaps, in knowing you have no worries about a lost signal. There’s the 911 operator perhaps more quickly able to locate your address by using your home phone number. In many cases, security alarm systems require a home phone number, though not all companies do. And, of course, there’s the expense. Minus the additional features, a landline in most instances is cheaper.
You can make a case for and against unplugging all together, but it is clear more people — more than 20 percent of households were wireless only in December — have already made their decisions. Whether it’s internet phone services like Skype, or mobile telephones, residential landlines may be losing popularity. Still, providers like AT&T tout the benefits of landlines.
What do you think? Ditch the landline and replace it with wireless communication? Or keep the landline?
What’s the case for or against the landline? More important, how do you cut costs on your cellphone and/or home phone?
Here are a few very useful tips to help you save on your cellphone bill. For starters, don’t pay for directory assistance using your cellphone, pay attention to your plan to consider adjusting it to your current usage and take advantage of family plans or other bonuses your provider might offer.
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10 comments Add your comment
Jim Nystrom
August 10th, 2009
9:22 am
I have no plans of ditching the landline primarily because of the safety issue. If an emergency were to occur, and any of us had a problem telling the 911 operator the address, with the landline the 911 operator can easily determine the address. That is not the case with a cell phone. For that reason alone, the landline is worth the $35/month I pay for it.
Renee Woods
August 10th, 2009
9:34 am
My dad always said that we should keep a landline in case (God forbid) something really bad happened and we couldn’t get cellphone signals. He said the landlines would continue to work. I don’t know how true that is, but it sounds plausible. However, because of my tight budget, I stick with just a cellphone. I’m rarely home, and at the moment, I fear having an emergency (car accident, getting mugged, etc.) more than I fear some major catastrophe.
Stan
August 10th, 2009
11:14 am
No landline for us. With a 45+ mi commute for me and about a 30+ mi commute for my wife, I feel justified in keeping hte cells and dumping the landline. Esp since the phone co doesn’t want to allow you get the cheapest phone line. To get the truly bare min landline you really have to push for it.
The problem I have with cell only is my wife made a bad choice on her “free” upgrade phone last time and it is dying with a few month till she can get another. and the ATT store doesn’t really sell phones…
marilyn
August 10th, 2009
9:52 pm
I would like to give up my landline but my only concern is how would i fax…
marilyn
August 10th, 2009
9:53 pm
Enter your comments here
Holly
August 13th, 2009
5:05 pm
No, went cell-only quite a while ago. The landline was at home not being used (by me) while my lifestyle meant I had to have a cell to stay in touch with friends. Frankly, the cost of the land line was just not worth it. It’s not that I use even the cell that much – I spend about $20 to $30 a month on my Tracfone prepaid phone – but I have better things to do with the money that would go to some big corporation just for the ‘what if’. I only got really annoying telemarketing calls on it when I still had it anyway.
fronnonsisa
August 22nd, 2009
2:13 am
I am looking for a Free http://ezinearticles.com/?Looking-For-a-Cellular-Phone-Directory?—How-to-Use-the-Online-Services&id=2684917 – reverse phone lookup online as stated here! One with the reverse search! Can anyone help me?
thelegend
August 22nd, 2009
8:18 pm
i agree with holly, i think land lines are overated and prepaid is the way to go. I currently have a at&t plan, but recently heard about a new low income service from Virgin mobile that i really want to know more about. landline phones are for dinosaurs.
Walte Call
November 15th, 2009
7:03 am
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November 19th, 2009
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