I Can Hear you Now – Landlines Not Extinct – Yet!
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It is difficult to ignore the statistics of the cell phones’ popularity and many large businesses have replaced their landlines with wireless communications. The battle of the phone companies continues as their phone and data plans continue to shift with consumer preference.
Memories Of The Landline
Oh those were the days, for those of a certain age, remember the little ole landline and for those under a certain age, it is landline nostalgia.
Remember when? Remember if?
• A phone call was a surprise
• One phone number was the entire household communication network
• Did the numbers of your phone number spell anything?
• The egg timer for when it was your turn to relinquish the phone
• You could turn off the phone and no voicemail would be recorded
• A second line was the ultimate prize and if you were lucky, had a fax machine to connect to the second line. Which beget the problem of trying to use both at once which clearly did not work.
• The difference between the busy signal and the off the hook busy signal
• The first thing you did when arriving home from work was to check for the blink blink of the answering machine
• Screening a call meant talking through the answer machine, ” Are you there, are you there? pick up please.”
Will Landlines Become Extinct?
According to the Centers for Disease Control cellphone only households now equal 51% (VOIP phones are included in the 51%). This is in comparison to the 9 out 10 Americans who owned landlines ten years ago. The survey also revealed that the majority of households who only own wireless phones are in the 18-44 year age group.
Cutting The Residential Landline Saves Money
Whether it be convenience, a preference for wireless communications or a distaste for the landline, extinguishing the landline is a proven manner to lower household expenses.
Telephone companies have lowered the basic household telephone plans to accommodate consumers who wish to have minimal phone service with a landline. Thus far, the plans for landlines continue and while the telephone companies would not want to lose any customers, the companies are vested in converting landline owners to cell phone owners as well. The home landline telephone service is not extinct as landline phones provide valuable service during weather emergencies, medical emergencies and are a reliable communication tool for seniors.
Residential Landlines For Power Outages
I would note that one of the advantages of a residential landline is the dependability during a power outage. However this is not a digital cordless phone which plugs into an electrical outlet; no power = no access to the phone service. The phone with reliability during a power outage is the old school phones hard wired into your home frequently called wall phones or analog phones which require a wall jack.
I still keep (albeit in the closet) a what is now close to antique rotary dial phone which continues to work. The phone is from old family phone, it may be 30-40 years old! But this workhorse of a phone is the go to phone during a power outage. Plug it in and voila!
If our old white phone was in a little better shape I would keep it displayed for eclectic decoration or a conversation starter for those who have no idea what a rotary dial phone is … I love old phones and amazon has a great selection of fun old school phones!
I know many elderly people who have land lines. I have one but its for the business and I only use the cell phone IF I need to but as I have grown I do not care to chat on the phone very much.
I have gone landlineless – but like to keep a landline active at the parents house.
I do know several people who have landlines. it tends to be teh older generation. as they understand the need for one. I want one even if it is basic. My boyfriend doesn’t want one as he feels they are too easy to get tapped.
I prefer a landline over a cellphone for speaking. The sound is much clearer. Nor is teh phone easily to break when dropped.
I totally agree, landlines are much clearer to hold a conversation.
I hate my cellphone..use it only when I have to and agree with you that the sound is much clearer. My landline phone has been dropped many times. For our business we have a landline…the smartphones are missed placed, dropped, stolen …but nobody steals the landlines
My kids don’t have landlines, and although we never answer ours (or rarely) we still have it – but, I’m planning to get rid of it in the near future
True, most I know do not have a landline.
Barbara – check out OurOldNumber.com if you still want to keep a central family number, but don’t want the landline service. I also left a lengthy comment below regarding the service if you are curious. It works great for our family!
Nope they are not extinct, I have one because it is really hard to use a cellphone where I live. In the woods, on a mountain ridge. Even my neighbors on this side of the ridge all have landlines. My niece that lives higher in the mountains also has a landline. the only time she can use her cellphone is when she goes to work. Not sure why,,,maybe all the trees, or just being so far out and off the grid.
Excellent point, while we live in an area with many cell towers, there are many areas with iffy service at best.
We still have a landline and will probably keep it, as we are hoping to move away from town where cell phone service is spotty.
Cell towers are definitely a consideration!
We still only have a landline phone. I guess we kind of live in the stone age. When I was a kid we lived in the country so had to share a party line with others on our road. Lol…some people listened in on other people’s conversations and OMG the rumors of gossip and who was doing what lol. So glad those old phone lines are gone.
I’d forgotten about party lines !
I won’t get rid of my landlines until I die. They are more reliable during power outages. I much prefer the answering machine to voice mail. I don’t use my cell phone unless I’m away from home and I don’t turn it on unless I want to call someone or I need to be available for someone while I’m out. I don’t have a smart phone.
Landlines are definitely reliable in a power outage!
I remember landlines! Actually, we just got rid of ours this year! Thanks for sharing with #overthemoon!
There is a great alternative to having a landline with OurOldNumber.com. My family uses it, we were able to keep our home telephone number, but discontinue our landline service. Now when people call the family phone number they are greeted with a recording that prompts them to choose which member of the family they would like to reach. When the caller selects someone, the call is forwarded to the selected caller’s cell phone. Super low monthly cost too!
Thanks for the info – will check it out!