Ditching your landline isn't as popular as it was supposed to be

A couple of years back there were all sorts of stories about how tons of people were going to be ditching their landlines in favor of having just a cellphone (it didn't help that in some places wireless service was starting to seem like a bargain compared with overpriced wireline service), but the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the decline of the landline might have been a little overstated. While the number of cellphone-only households did increase 6% last year, the overall trend towards cellphone-only is slowing down even though it was supposed to accelerate after the FCC mandated landline-to-cellphone number portability, with some people choosing to have their landline reinstalled once they discover how totally spotty cell coverage is in their home (which apparently they couldn't be bothered to test before they cancelled their account).

[B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I ditched my landline for a cell phone, and I couldn't be happier. Yes, I made sure the coverage in my home was good before taking the plunge.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I have no landline in my apartment, absolutely no need for it. I get fine reception even with 3 floors above me and they want close to $25 a month just for local service.

Sort of on-topic... Does anyone know if DirecTV and Dish Network really require a landline phone if you want receivers in multiple rooms?

[fabienne @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

and thus the beauty of voip... i *heart* my packet8

---f

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Who needs a landline? for me its a waste of money #1) im hardly ever home, and when im home its at night #2) with the rise of Cheap cable broadband running at 4Mbps and VOIP (skype) it saves me at MINIMUM $50 a month in phone bills.
I have a cellphone, and if anyone needs to reach me there it works fine. Oh yea and the added bonus of Telemarketers NOT allowed to make their calls to Cellphones is also GREAT!

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I have a home alarm that is cost prohibited to go cellular or else I would dump my telemarketing...errr...land line.

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I dumped my land line three years ago and never went back. I have line-less DSL via speakeasy, and my cell has been my only number for three wonderful telemarketing free years.

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I never bothered getting my home wired up for a landline, kind of funny as there are still jacks installed in every room. I get great cell reception in every room in my house. And it's cheaper than a landline to boot.

[Eric W @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Peole still have landlines? Seriously though, I havent had a landline for four years, and have never missed it. $35 a month x 4 years = $1680! I'm rich!

[Tracy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I wanted to dump the landline but needed to keep it (at minimal service) for two reasons: 1) alarm system which uses it and 2) DirectTV -- required in order to order PPV programming.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I dumped my old landline for vonage.

In response to Brian:
It's probably true. I know Tivo won't work with VOIP. Fax machines and modems don't really work over voip either.

[phat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

#5

I didn't have a landline for about 2 years but the new house that we purchase didn't have reliable signel anymore. I had to get a house phone again (sad).

We did went with Vonage for our home service and came accross the same issue with the alarm system like #5 but there's a company that'll do it over VOIP.

www.nextalarm.com

Vonage + Alarm System is AOK!

[Jayson Elliot @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

As long as you don't have Verizon, you should be ok. Remember their CEO and his claim that users are spoiled crybabies for wanting to get a signal IN THEIR HOUSE...

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000997040452/

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I've got a landline. I use it for DSL service mostly now. Cable modem isn't an option for me, as I have DISH network and don't want to give it up.

[Bootes @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

1. DirecTV does not need a phone line unless you want to order PPV from your reciever. (You can order online or over the phone)

DirecTivos don't require it, but they will bug you after a month or so without a call, and you will not be able to get software updates installed without a phone.

2. I have a land line. I get zero bars on my street. Actually zero anywhere in my town other then on main roads. My town does not allow cell phone towers.

[Shawn (cyberhomie) @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I think DSL is hindering the transition also. When I had cable internet - I didn't have a landline, but when I switched to SBC DSL, I had to have a landline. I never use it - I think my DirecTivo does sometimes.

Once WiMAX hits, I think we will see an increase. The satellite and pvr companies need to get rid of their dependancy on dial-up.

[DaveH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

My wife hates running after a ringing cell phone in another part of the house. So we have VOIP (Callvantage). The house was never connected to Verizon's network, so I plug my VOIP ATA into a jack and can use the extensions around the house. Would consider trying one of those cell-socket type things that plugs a cell phone into the local network, but haven't bothered. Am thinking of dropping the cell service anyways, its expensive and I use it less and less.

[Cable Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

There are a few advantages to having a landline. 1) When one dials 911 they know exactly where the call is coming from. 2) When the power goes out the phone keeps working, throughout the house and throughout the city.

[tonepimp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Being a tech junkie, I still use my land line quite a bit. Reason being, I don't feel like paying $80/m for a lot of day time minutes.

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I too ditched my landline 4 years ago. What is interesting to note: most of the people who post here are tech people who know the better alternatives to a landline. Plus if need be, when you plug a phone into any home jack (even without service) you can still call 911.

[voip @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I used my vonage line with my house alarm on the prior house. It worked the same as it did with my verizon line (tested with the alarm co a few times).

Concerning the power outages, I had a UPS hooked up to my cable modem/voip adapter which got me through the daily 3pm summer storm power outages.

TIVO needed a LOT of attempts for the intial setup over the VOIP line.. but it did eventually connect long enough to obtain the new code so I could connect over the network.

[JohnnyBoy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I dropped my landline a couple of years ago, and have been pretty happy with that.
But now I'm considering getting it back just so I can get $14.95/month DSL and drop my $44 cable connection.
Not sure if it adds up though.
I wish I could get DSL without the phone .

[Neil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I cut the cord over 4 years ago and never looked back. Sprint was pretty good but Cingular's coverage is the best. I get 4-5 bars at home and NEVER think twice about a "land-line". "Ma-Bell" for decades had us paying for hardware that was maybe used 4 hours a day. We really supported them and then they get broken up and complain, go figure.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"What is interesting to note: most of the people who post here are tech people who know the better alternatives to a landline."

Just try to fax something with a cell phone. I dare you.

Better yet, try ordering pizza for delivery. Not every pizza place does this, but a lot of them will not deliver to you if you give them a cell phone number. (I say this from experience.)

I have yet to hear anyone give me a good reason why VoIP is "better" than a regular landline; the one I most often see cited is price. Well, I pay $21 a month for my landline phone - what do you pay for your VoIP?

My combo of landline and cell phone means I can do anything you can do with any type of phone *and* I get free long distance. So there.

Real tech geeks don't buy into technology just because it's there. It has to actually offer a compelling alternative to what came before. Cell phones are not an alternative to anything; they're a complement to the landline phone.

[Desert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Yup, no need for a landline unless you have no cell coverage at home or you like getting screwed.

[Danielle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

#23 I completely agree with you as far as needing a compelling reason. I just cannot believe you only pay 21/month for a landline. You must live in a very rural area with only 1 area code because where I live there are at least 8 area codes within a 50 mile radius and I couldn't find anything less than 60/month.

I had been cell only for 9 years (even before *it* was the thing to do) but found the restrictions annoying (dropped calls, faxing, Tivo set-up, 911 & pizza delivery guys).

I now have Voip because 1)faxing to be available by fall 2)you register your address so 911 knows where to dispatch 3)can listen to my messages thru the internet and 4)It's cheap

My only problem now is that my broadband company BLOWS and my service is down at least 1 time daily.

[Walter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"Better yet, try ordering pizza for delivery. Not every pizza place does this, but a lot of them will not deliver to you if you give them a cell phone number. (I say this from experience.)"

We've ordered plenty of pizzas without a problem, guess it just depends on how bad your local pizza deliverer wants your business.

As far as faxing, I fax things about once a decade or so, and then I borrow the one at work... they're ok with that.

We dumped our landline about a year ago (SWB kept putting back on services we had dropped, until it really ticked me off). We were throwing away 40 bucks a month on something we never used.

So far I've been able to live without it just fine. I've got cable internet, my Tivo will connect to my wireless network, and updates itself off the internet.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Voice quality is much better with landline. Not that I expect anyone here to concede that.

[Chameleon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I really wanted to ditch the land-line when I bought my house 8 months ago, but I discovered that a land-line is necessary for the alarm system.
So, I opted for the bare minimum plan with a limited amount of minutes for only $9/mo. Of course, after taxes and all the other crap they add on, it's still about $15.
:-(

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I think I kind of agree with 'Jeff' on this one. But I'm a redundancy nut, so I like having the various cell phones we have in house, plus landline service available (with free nationwide long distance). Throw in skype over our cable modem and we're all set. Not to mention retaining dial-up capabilities if/when the cable modem service wacks out (which happens rarely, but still...).

Also, I'm not too keen on using the celly all the time...the remaining ambiguity about the long term effects of cell phone radiation is sufficient to make me feel more comfortable with a landline if my conversation is likely to be longer than about 15 minutes (though I have and do use a headset and feel pretty safe).

I would also add in that landlines tend to offer more stable connections, but these days even when you are on a landline, the odds are about 50/50 the recipient is on a cell phone anyway...

Bah...it's all gonna run over fiber soon anyway...

[SH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I ditched my landline years ago, only to have it re-installed because it got lonely at dinnertime when those telemarketing companies stopped calling.

[Eric W @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

This pizza thing is total BS. Where the hell do you live. I live in Richmond VA, and NO ONE has ever asked me if I am on a cell phone. Not any of the major pizza chains(and we have them all), not any of the local pizza joints, not even Chinese delivery has ever asked me this. What kind of Soup Nazis are you dealing with?

[Ken @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I've run into the pizza problem too - just after we moved to our current house about two years ago and before we had the landline connected. I gave the number, and they immediately said "that's a cell phone number" and refused to deliver without a landline number.

What I can't figure out is how you get the cell phone account without a landline number. When we setup our T-Mobile account (again, about two years ago), I gave my existing cell phone number for the credit check - since I had no landline at the time. It was rejected with a message "cell phone number not accepted". Once the vendor changed the phone number from the cell phone number to a friend's landline, the credit check was approved!

[gao16 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Response to #19
You probably will NOT be able to dial 911 from your home if you don't have a landline. As a matter of fact, you most likely won't even remain connected to the switch at the central office for very long after disconnecting the landline. I do believe, however, you can dial 911 from any cell phone and get through even if your account is deactivated.

[Rocket Punch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I ditch my landline long time ago, my "basic" phone service was $35 and $17 are tax and fees that I have to pay for no reason.

Landline is stupid.

[Just a teenager @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

One *huge* benefit of a landline is that it continues to function during an extended power failure because the system is powered on the telco end. Sure, you can connect a UPS to your VO-IP modem, but that isn't going to last more than a few hours (unless you have some ridiculously expensive unit, but then why not spring for a landline). And a cellphone battery only lasts so long without a recharge (plus many towers, at least where I live, do not have battery backup or generators). I suspect in the upcoming years we will see a synergy of the reliably and off-site power of landlines with the cheaper and innovative digital telecom services. (Think VO-IP powered by your cable company, or a cell infrastructure *actually* backed up by generators)

Also, a cell phone is not really feasible for full-time local communication, costing upwards of $60 per month for a limited number of minutes whereas a landline is (around here at least) $35 per month for unlimited local calls. Long distance prices may vary from option to option, VO-IP tends to be good in that regard.

Plus, as any true tech-geek will tell you, redundancy is a good thing. Why not have a land line to back up your primary means of communication?

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Matt,

I've actually gotten my Vonage line to work with the dial-up modem on my TiVo. It didn't work for months and months, then one day I tried it and it's been fine for almost two years now.

[Wim Bonner @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Statistics.... People without landlines don't show up in the statistics, so you only see the statistics when people actually disconnect their landline. When you simply never connect a landline, you probably don't show up in the count. You've got a cell phone. You move. You never bother to get a landline connected. You are nat part of the statistic base. Plus you don't get telemarketing any more. Plus you generally aren't listed in a phone book.

I switched to using Vonage for my home phone.. I only talk about 2 hours a month on the local phone as it is, and a reasonable amount fgrom my cell phone. Vonage costs me $16.95 a month after taxes, and includes caller ID, Call Forwarding, cheap or included long distance, and Voicemail. (with internet delivery of voicemail)

When I paid Qwest for my home phone number I paid somethign like $39 for the basic line plus caller ID and call forwarding, and then I had to pay for long distance on top of that.

I like being able to give one number to contact me, and being able to answer it either on my cell phone or my home phone. Setting so that both phones ring at the same time is a nice feature of Vonage that wasn't available from qwest.

[nels @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Are there that many readers here that live in the ghetto and need alarm systems???? Talk about a waste of money...... 4 Years no landline, I leech DSL from neighbors, my bad, I know.

[Carlos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Yes we ditched our landline. I was scared by all the skeptics that threatened our bills skyrocketing due to the high usage of daytime minutes in our home thus I got Sprint PCS unlimited minutes for $50 per month with $5 for long distance. It was about the same as our landline with all the bells and whistles which came standard on the Sprint account. Then I saw how little minutes I used since most of the people I talk to have Sprint cell phones. I downgraded the plan which now makes the savings at about $20 less per month. Reception is crystal clear at our home. The only gripe is I can't get cheap standalone DSL. Cable is still overpriced. Over the years I grew to detest SBC and their policies. Anytime I moved they would always find a way to say that the dial tone wouldn't reach my apartment because of a problem on my end and not their end. A quick $120 dollars and they would gladly "fix" the problem. Then there was all those silly $5 and $10 dollar charges for adding features, removing features, changing type of billing, etc... But what really made me hate them was how they sold me to telemarketers. Not a problem with my cellphone.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I hate telcos...BellSouth won't give me DSL without their overpriced ($20 a month) useless voice service. I rarely talk on the phone, and when I do I like the fact that it's anywhere I am (my cell) and the long distance is free. I am just waiting until Wintel figures out how to give me full wireless access anywhere for one low monthly rate so I can stop paying $100 for cellular + broadband...I figure Microsoft+Intel will peg it at around $50 a month once WiMax/stratellites take off as they are more interested in selling me XBox add-ons and software than charging me access fees.

[Jack Campbell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

In late 2003, I dumped the landline, and my wife and I have happily used our shared Verizon plan ever since. She has her number, I have mine. We have a cheap T-1 line into our house, through which all faxing, and computer access takes place. Our home alarm system is through alarm.com, using wireless monitoring. Welcome to 2005 suburbia.

[Anessa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I need a home security system that does not require a land line. I have cable and use cell phones. What are my best options?

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Well I had thought I could go without landline too. So I looked to my cable company. What a joke.

I have Charter in the area and they, like Comcast, bait and switch their internet price. Yeah get low price for 6 mo, then they bend ya over and charge ya $50 just for internet. Even with TV. Cable companies are rapists.

Well I like other I'd imagine spend some time online while I am away from the house being at work and such. So why am I to pay $50 just for internet? So I got rid of the whole VOIP/Cable mdm thing.

I have SBC DSL now and love it. Yeah, landline required, but look at what I got. SBC does have a $14.95 price for 1.5 dsl but I game and download "legal music." So I got $24.95 dsl at 3.0. Much better for what I do. Phone srv, I pay about $24.00 for umlmtd lcl srv. The only catch, I've been told the dsl is a year committment, but family and friends who have it tell me that year after I can committ with exchange for time to get a continuing low price.

Still paying $50.00 per mo, but not doing it foolishly for just one srv. Cable companies and their monopolies and stick it.

Gas costs too much and need more service for my buck.

Anessa, about your alarm, get a landline. Don't trust a cable co with your security. I am going to have ADT install a system and two of their reps sd the copper lines from the pho co's is the best and most secure.

[kay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

i finally got rid of sbc and have been totally happy with my sprintpcs service. i don't need a landline because i'm never home and when i am, the ringer is always off. i get voicemail and caller id with my cell and the coverage is great in my area. i can call 911 if needed, order pizza/chinese with no problem and whenever we have a power outage, my phone still works and makes a great emergency flashlight :)

i did think that i would need to go back to the sbc cheese line because i needed dsl service since i'm starting school and i'm a gaming junkie. luckily, i found out about speakeasy and i hope all of that works out. i guess all in all, it just depends on your location and needs. i'll let you know how the speakeasy goes.