Are land lines obsolete?

Pi1otguy

Pi1otguy

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
2,477
Location
Fontana, CA
Display Name
Display name:
Fox McCloud
Now that I'm moving to a new place I thought about what utilities and services I need/want connected or installed. Missing from this list was home phone service. Since I have good reception there and anyone who I care to talk to has my cell number I just couldn't justify why I'd basically throw away $20-$35 a month for a service I will never use. To protect my cell from unwanted telemarketing calls I've gotten a MagicJack for the sole purpose of having a number to place on forms that'll likely spawn unwanted calls.

Other then the 4 - 10 minute penalty for calling 911 from a cell and the expectation that I'll lose service during a large scale power outage or large earthquake I don't see the point in a home phone.

Is home phone service the next buggy whip?
 
Dedicated phone line service is certainly not a growth industry right now. But the idea of a home phone line is still there and I expect it to be for the next few decades. What I really expect to change is that the phone service will change from circuit switched dedicated lines to IP based service. I would also not be surprised at all that when you bring your cellphone into your house that the call will be routed through some sort of home wireless gateway instead of a wide area cell site.
 
I still have a land line. Its the only way I can have DSL where I live. the phone company wont do DSL without a landline.
 
When I moved to Houston 7 years ago, I got a landline simply so I could get a DSL. I rarely ever used the land phone, as most people had my cell number. When the better half and I moved in together, we opted not to get a land line since we could get direct DSL. We haven't missed it.
 
flyer said:
I still have a land line. Its the only way I can have DSL where I live. the phone company wont do DSL without a landline.
Click to expand...
That's the same with me. Also the cellphone reception is not completely reliable where I live which normally wouldn't matter but I have an on-call component to my job.
 
I have a land line an greatly prefer it for long phone calls. Mostly though it's just a backup line for work to reach me.
 
jesse said:
I have a land line an greatly prefer it for long phone calls. Mostly though it's just a backup line for work to reach me.
Click to expand...
Do you prefer it because of it being a land line with better quality or do you prefer to use the phone handset for longer calls than a smaller cellular type handset?
 
I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy.

Land line and cell. Just in case.
 
So, what do you use for fax?
-- Pete
 
Now that I have a "network extender" (micro cell so Verizon can charge me for using my internet connection) my cell service is very reliable and we're thinking about getting rid of the land line.

We might transfer that number to Vonnage but maybe not.
 
Landline is only there for the security system to call home. Last time I talked to the monitoring system it wouldn't work via VoIP.
 
flyersfan31 said:
I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy.

Land line and cell. Just in case.
Click to expand...

Yup. The incremental cost for a voice line over dsl is zip. Good for enhanced 911. Plus, a lot of state/local emergency management now have robodialers for important notifications, like, I dunno, Favre's elbow or something.
 
Pi1otguy said:
Now that I'm moving to a new place I thought about what utilities and services I need/want connected or installed. Missing from this list was home phone service. Since I have good reception there and anyone who I care to talk to has my cell number I just couldn't justify why I'd basically throw away $20-$35 a month for a service I will never use. To protect my cell from unwanted telemarketing calls I've gotten a MagicJack for the sole purpose of having a number to place on forms that'll likely spawn unwanted calls.

Other then the 4 - 10 minute penalty for calling 911 from a cell and the expectation that I'll lose service during a large scale power outage or large earthquake I don't see the point in a home phone.

Is home phone service the next buggy whip?
Click to expand...

If you mean a circuit-switched POTS line, I think they're on their way out. I haven't had one for years.

I have three Vonage numbers for the business (two voice and one fax) running over a nominal 10 Mb/s cable connection, and a cell phone for friends, family, and VIP clients to reach me.

I also have a MagicJack number for people and entities I don't care to be bothered by (department stores, financial institutions, insurance companies, government agencies, etc.). The MagicJack is a wonderful thing. It's the only number that I ever enter on forms of any sort -- and I never answer it. I seldom even have the device plugged in to a computer except when I have to make an outgoing call to someone I don't want to hear back from. This is so the caller ID shows that number. Once I'm done with my outgoing call, I unplug the MagicJack and let everything go to voice mail (which I almost never bother checking).

By the way, the MagicJack actually works pretty well, as long as you don't mind leaving your PC on 24/7 (or if you do so anyway). The fact that I use it as a destination for unwanted calls shouldn't be construed as my bad-mouthing the device or quality of service, which is actually fairly decent.

-Rich
 
zaitcev said:
So, what do you use for fax?
-- Pete
Click to expand...

People still fax? Other then sensitive docs I don't see why an email attachment isn't better. It's generally quicker and higher res. My only issue is the general lack security as emails traverse the web.

RJM62 said:
If you mean a circuit-switched POTS line, I think they're on their way out. I haven't had one for years.
Click to expand...

Well that or even the concept of a "house phone" (POTS, VoIP, etc). For instance, while living with the folks the I generally ignored the house phone when it rang cause the concept makes no sense to me anymore. Why would you call the house phone when everyone in the house has a cell phone?

Needless to say the parental units find this behavior odd.
 
gprellwitz said:
Landline is only there for the security system to call home. Last time I talked to the monitoring system it wouldn't work via VoIP.
Click to expand...
AT&T uVerse is stating that they support alarms. I do not know if they are doing it over the data line or if they also run an extra twisted pair just for the alarm. I do know they need you to jump through a few extra hoops when you order.
 
ScottM said:
AT&T uVerse is stating that they support alarms. I do not know if they are doing it over the data line or if they also run an extra twisted pair just for the alarm. I do know they need you to jump through a few extra hoops when you order.
Click to expand...
Doesn't really matter:
We're sorry. Currently, AT&T U-verse service isn't available for the address associated with this phone number:
Click to expand...
 
ScottM said:
Do you prefer it because of it being a land line with better quality or do you prefer to use the phone handset for longer calls than a smaller cellular type handset?
Click to expand...
Both. The phone is more comfortable, doesn't get hot, and the battery lasts WAY longer. I also don't drop calls and the quality is better. I don't get the *best* cell phone service in my house and my iPhone4 isn't the most comfortable for a 3 hour phone call.
 
jesse said:
Both. The phone is more comfortable, doesn't get hot, and the battery lasts WAY longer. I also don't drop calls and the quality is better. I don't get the *best* cell phone service in my house and my iPhone4 isn't the most comfortable for a 3 hour phone call.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. I am just asking because I do a lot with usability design.
 
You can now make and receive calls using your google voice number and gmail, which means you don't have to have a cell/home phone to do it.

That ruins any need for a home phone in my eyes.
 
Pi1otguy said:
Other then the 4 - 10 minute penalty for calling 911 from a cell and ....
Click to expand...

If the calling party knows their proper address, closest cross street and who their emergency provider is, and can communicate it effectively there is no time penalty.
 
This is coincidental, this afternoon I was working on my phone junction board, noted that I had pulled a cable for "public telephone" into the reception area (mid 90's) but never used it - had to laugh when I saw it, thinking about all the people using their cell phones up there.
 
Doggtyred said:
If the calling party knows their proper address, closest cross street and who their emergency provider is, and can communicate it effectively there is no time penalty.
Click to expand...
From personal experience I gotta disagree. Probably differs in your state, but in CA cell phone 911 calls are handled by CHP while each locality has their own system for landline 911 calls.

I've called 911 from my cell about 2 or so times. I know it's a small sample size, but I was put on hold about 3 minutes the 1st time and almost 5 minutes the 2nd time before speaking to a person. OTOH the times I've called from the land line they picked up within 2 rings and help arrived within 4 minutes of picking up the phone.
 
IMHO the land line is pretty much obsolete. I got rid of mine about 9 months ago. Everybody in the house had a cell phone - which they seemed to prefer to use - so what's the point? I got a Magic Jack, which works well enough. I do use it for outgoing calls now and then - particularly for calling overseas (you do have to pay extra for that, but the cost is reasonable). Incoming calls mostly go to voicemail (unless the caller ID indicates that it is somebody I want to talk to). It supposedly works for 911 - but I have never (ever) called 911. Like others have said, you do have to leave the PC on for it to work (but incoming calls will go to voicemail regardless). It also goes to sleep if somebody switches to a different profile than the one it was installed on. No biggie - anybody who needs to get hold of me has my cell number anyway. Another interesting feature of Magic Jack is that the voicemails are automatically sent to your email address as an attached .wav file - so you can check them by phone or computer - whichever is more convenient.

Some have mentioned preferring a LL for long calls. Occasionally I take part in conference calls from home - and use a cordless headset phone (connected to the Magic Jack) to do so. It works the same as a real LL in my experience. I really miss the headset phone if I have to do a conference call without it.

Dave
 
Land line here. Comcast keeps trying to sell me on VOIP and I keep asking what happens when the power goes out. 8 hour backup is not adequate, we've had power outages of 5 and 10 days. The POTS line just kept working (got to have a direct connected phone, those wireless jobs are useless with dead batteries). And cell phone service at the house is spotty.
 
Pi1otguy said:
People still fax? Other then sensitive docs I don't see why an email attachment isn't better. It's generally quicker and higher res. My only issue is the general lack security as emails traverse the web.
Click to expand...

What if your document is not on your computer? What if it is hard copy? Not everyone has a scanner. Plus, scanning, then emailing, vs just dumping it in the fax machine? Faxing is easier.
 
ScottM said:
Do you prefer it because of it being a land line with better quality or do you prefer to use the phone handset for longer calls than a smaller cellular type handset?
Click to expand...
I greatly prefer land lines because they allow duplex conversations. Both of my cellphone are simplex only. I don't know if it's the phones, the provider or a general issue with digital cell service but it's very annoying and makes it hard to carry on a conversation.

I swear, cell phones didn't always have this problem and I used to be able to carry on full duplex conversations instead of putting up with today's "stumbing over each other" simplex conversation.
 
Pi1otguy said:
From personal experience I gotta disagree. Probably differs in your state, but in CA cell phone 911 calls are handled by CHP while each locality has their own system for landline 911 calls.

I've called 911 from my cell about 2 or so times. I know it's a small sample size, but I was put on hold about 3 minutes the 1st time and almost 5 minutes the 2nd time before speaking to a person. OTOH the times I've called from the land line they picked up within 2 rings and help arrived within 4 minutes of picking up the phone.
Click to expand...

Then the problem is clearly a Kalifornia problem. In the greater Houston area, the cell calls go to whomever covers the territory where the cell tower is located. If you are deep in the heart of Houston it's a given you will get the Houston PSAP (public safety answering point). If you are deep in the county you will get the county PSAP. Its not uncommon to make a call on the fringe of a boundary, and hit a cell tower on the other side of the line but they transfer those pretty quickly.

Most of the smaller municipalities also have their own PSAPS. Non municipal fire departments and EMS providers dont, but their calls can be transferred by the push of a button.

I used to work in the Pasadena PSAP as an ambulance dispatcher (who while a separate provider, rode on PD's coattails and got to sit next to a real 911 batphone with ALI/ANI (auto location identifier/Auto number identifier), right next to the PD dispatchers.

In all the times I've ever called 911 from a cell phone in the greater Houston area, I've NEVER been put on hold and never took more than a few seconds to be transferred to the proper agency (with one exception, and that was handled the next day with a phone call to their database manager, who was our volunteer fire chief)
 
I have two land lines. One so we have a "family" number and one for my wife's business. When I get home, the cell phone gets plugged in in another part of the house. I keep the ringer low at work, and I don't bother changing the volume up and down.

As for the office line, we keep that even though it doesn't get used much because it looks better on a business card to have an "office" and a "mobile".

Plus, both my wife and I agree that landlines handsets are simply more comfortable to use. The sound quality is better (at my house, at least), it doesn't get hot, and the ergonomics are better.
 
timwinters said:
I greatly prefer land lines because they allow duplex conversations. Both of my cellphone are simplex only. I don't know if it's the phones, the provider or a general issue with digital cell service but it's very annoying and makes it hard to carry on a conversation.

I swear, cell phones didn't always have this problem and I used to be able to carry on full duplex conversations instead of putting up with today's "stumbing over each other" simplex conversation.
Click to expand...

By the way, the other thing that drives me crazy about "cell phone talking" is that some connections definitely have a second or so time delay. Combine that delay with a Simplex connection and having a conversation becomes extremely difficult. I hang up and call back...hoping for a "non-delay" connection.
 
timwinters said:
I greatly prefer land lines because they allow duplex conversations. Both of my cellphone are simplex only. I don't know if it's the phones, the provider or a general issue with digital cell service but it's very annoying and makes it hard to carry on a conversation.

I swear, cell phones didn't always have this problem and I used to be able to carry on full duplex conversations instead of putting up with today's "stumbing over each other" simplex conversation.
Click to expand...
Must be a provider/cell phone thing. I have never had that issue.
 
Pi1otguy said:
Is home phone service the next buggy whip?
Click to expand...

How soon before telemarketers and other pondscum like
political robo-dialers start calling cellphone numbers?
(edit: I still can't figure out why those oxygen-thieves are
allowed to call landlines)

One advantage of POTS is that those phones last forever.
How long do these cellphones last? Batteries can't
last forever. Do we really want to keep buying phones
every few years?
 
Last edited:
timwinters said:
I greatly prefer land lines because they allow duplex conversations. Both of my cellphone are simplex only.
Click to expand...
I know of no cell systems that are simplex in their operation. Perhaps we are using the terms different. When I hear duplex that means that two people can talk at once. Cellular goes to great lengths to make that possible even though it is spectrum inefficient. Perhaps what you are perceiving as simplex is side tone in your ear not translating the background noise that the microphone is picking up.
 
Bob Noel said:
How soon before telemarketers and other pondscum like
political robo-dialers start calling cellphone numbers?
Click to expand...
It won't happen until the law changes. There is a current regulation that prohibits robo calls and telemarketing calls to cellphones. The reason is because we do not have calling party pays for wireless. If that changes then expect that regulation to come under attack.
 
ScottM said:
I know of no cell systems that are simplex in their operation. Perhaps we are using the terms different. When I hear duplex that means that two people can talk at once. Cellular goes to great lengths to make that possible even though it is spectrum inefficient. Perhaps what you are perceiving as simplex is side tone in your ear not translating the background noise that the microphone is picking up.
Click to expand...

Scott, atually, I mean precisely simplex. Only one person can talk at a time. If you start to say something it cuts off the other person. Combine this with the one second time delay and it's a real PITA to hold a conversation. I have two cell phones, my wife one and we experience all these issues on all three phones. Verizon here.

Edit: By the way...both people CAN talk at once. They just can't hear each other when they do.:wink2:
 
Last edited:
Bob Noel said:
One advantage of POTS is that those phones last forever. How long do these cellphones last? Batteries can't last forever. Do we really want to keep buying phones every few years?
Click to expand...

I for one want a new cell every 2-5 years. I've only had 1 cell fail and that was due to me falling into the ocean with it.

But u have a point on longevity. In my previous household cordless phones last about 5-10 years & corded up to 20 years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top