Posted on 01/09/2014 5:33:59 AM PST by pogo101
My wife and I are considering "making the leap" by dumping our land line phone. We'd effectively still have a hard-wired connection, to a point, namely our U-verse internet connection -- although that largely becomes wireless INSIDE the house.
We are sufficiently confident in the connection that it would work in a medical or other emergency.
Also, we have gotten so many spam land-line calls in recent years, despite being on the DNC list, that our landline is largely useless anyway.
Thoughts?
I’ve kept my land line for two reasons ... to weed out those obnoxious marketing calls and so my kids would have an easy access to a phone in case of an emergency.
When we moved to Annapolis, Maryland, we decided not to get a hard line and have not regretted it a moment. Just make sure that your cell phone works great in your home and does not drop calls. I have heard that happening to some folks especially in older homes.
During Hurricane Ike, on the SW side of Houston, our U-Verse was out for a few hours. Land-line phones came back in a few days, almost a week before we got power.
With a small generator, we got by fine and let neighbors use our Vonage phone to check in with family.
Want to do the same thing. Yesterday my ATT monthly $100 bill arrived for precious Land line and Internet. $1,200 a year for endless solicatations and crappy DSL. What do we do?
Got rid of my land line years ago. Don’t miss it at all.....or the bill for it.
We found the savings to be minimal. Also, the land line comes in handy when the cell isn’t getting the best signal. Some family and friends only have my land line number, especially older friends.
If it’s a true analog (PBX-based) phone line, you have the benefit of a telephony connection regardless of power in your home. If it’s VoIP-based, ditch it. The costs are not worth the hassle.
Most of what we get on the land line is spam (we're do not call too), service providers, and a few relatives now and again.
I could live without it.
Did it for a year, but then had it re-installed.
Reason: Babysitters without phones.
Don't miss it.
If you have had the number for a long time port it to a cell phone
Seriously, the only adjustment I've had to make is to REMEMBER to drag my cell phone with me from room to room. That's the weird thing--kids do it as a matter of course, but those of us (I'm 52) who grew up with land lines think of the house phone as a central location, with a loud ringer.
Cell phones are more personal in so many ways--quieter ringer, personalized this and that.
I was worried that my doctor, the pharmacy, work (before I retired!) would have trouble reaching me. I worried for naught. We waited years as the land line grew quieter and quieter...we never used it!
My advice: Ditch it! You won't miss it. And don't look back.
If you have had that phone number for a long time, consider getting MagicJack
You can keep your old number, and you don’t even have to use it- you just go to the website, log onto your account, and forward all calls to your cell phone. All calls that would have gone to your home phone will go to your call. If you later decide you wish you had your old phone back then you have not lost your number
And at $19 a YEAR it is incredible bargain- i am amazed this has not taken over completely
Been without a land line for 5 years. No concern about “emergencies”. Just as long as those that need to contact you in the case of an emergency have your cell number.
When I visit my mother, I’m amazed at how often her phone rings with “spam” calls. I have had maybe two or three cold calls over the last 5 years (and I think 2 of those were from candidates during the election).
In fact, when we moved back to Arizona, the cable company packaged in six "free" months of phone service with our internet service. So, we plugged an old phone in. No one ever answered it or used it.
I have Comcast LL and internet.
I got rid of my landline. Got tired of getting survey calls at 8:00 at night. It was worst around election time. Amazing how the political class exempted themselves from the Do Not Call lists. I have no regrets but I’m single so it works for me.
I cut my land line to bare bones service. I get 30 minutes of long distance included and a phone line for $24.95 a month.
We’re using a dial around (Onesuite) for long distance for $.02 per minute.
My older cell phone works, but it’s a dumb phone no contract for $.10 per minute. It costs about $9.00 a month and I can’t use all of the minutes.
We kept our old AT&T land line with a non powered phone for power outage use. Come to find out the phone didn’t work during a power outage because the sub-station lost power. Apparently it uses digital switching now or something. Thinking about doing the same you are.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.