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Why Garfield phones have littered French beaches for 35 years
There's no better symbol of plastic ocean pollution and '80s consumerism gone wild than the Garfield phones of Brittany. The handsets, in the form of the aggressively unfunny cat, have been washing up on French beaches for decades. However, the novelty has long since worn off for residents who have been picking them up since the '80s. Now, a local anti-litter group called Ar Vilantsou has finally found the source: a lost shipping container.
UK ISPs will automatically compensate customers for shoddy service
A poor level of customer service shown by your broadband or landline provider is like a late train. You know you could probably argue your way into some nominal refund, but it just seems more trouble than it's worth. The issue with that is there's no incentive to ensure the train runs on time, so earlier this year, Ofcom floated the idea that telecoms providers should compensate customers for poor service automatically, no complaints necessary. Today the regulator announced that BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet -- which cover 90 percent of broadband and landline customers between them -- have "agreed" to be part of such a scheme.
BT is slashing the price of line rental for landline-only customers
A BT landline costs £19 per month, and that's without any kind of free calls package added on top. The cost is easy to ignore when it's absorbed into a TV and broadband package for £38.49 per month, but customers that only have a landline end up paying over half that price for just the one, essential utility. From April 2018, however, landline-only customers on BT -- of which there are around a million -- will start paying just £12 per month for line rental. That £7 per month price cut equates to a saving of £84 per year, and you can thank telecoms regulator Ofcom for that.
Amazon Echo Connect gives you a smart speakerphone for your landline
Now here's something you weren't expecting from Amazon's Alexa-themed event: a device dedicated to those still using landlines. The just-unveiled Echo Connect turns an Echo into a speakerphone that lets you make land-based phone calls using only your voice. It uses your existing phone number and will even let you dial 911 hands-free -- important if you've injured yourself and can't reach a handset (yes, Amazon is clearly accounting for the "I've fallen and I can't get up" scenario).
Most American households have abandoned their landlines
A US Health Department study has confirmed that most US citizens have completely stopped using landline phones -- shocking no-one. In a report released today, the government revealed that 50.8 percent of American households are now cellphone-only, with just 39.4 percent using both a mobile and a landline. That leaves a measly 6.5 percent of US homes that just use a landline, with the remaining 3.2 percent not owning a phone of any kind. The declining interest in landlines likely has one major culprit: the smartphone.
Ofcom forces BT to cut over two million monthly phone bills by £5
Healthy competition between the UK's quad-play providers may have led to lower prices for all-in-one broadband, phone, TV and mobile packages, but some customers like to pick and choose individual providers for each job. For landline customers in particular, that decision could mean they're paying a lot more than they actually need to. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, believes that as many as two million people who are signed up to landline-only contracts with BT are getting a rough deal, so it's put forward a plan to cut their monthly bills by at least £5 per month.
Sky's Now TV Combo packages go on sale
What began as a way for consumers to access Sky's premium TV content without signing a contract has now become a much wider ecosystem of subscription-free services. The Now TV Combo, announced just over a week ago, offers a mix-and-match approach to pay TV, broadband and phone landlines. And as of today, it's now available for public consumption. A new Now TV box developed by Roku, which adds support for linear Freeview channels, remains at the heart of the proposition and can be purchased outright for £40. On top of that, you can also buy Now TV passes to access Sky's entertainment, movies, sports and kids channels, as well as their on-demand libraries.
UK ad watchdog forces ISPs to simplify broadband pricing
TalkTalk announced just yesterday that, later this year, it would simplify its broadband prices by including line rental in the monthly costs. And now we know why. Sure, a single figure makes it easier to understand what you'll be paying each month, but it was hardly an altruistic move. It's almost as if TalkTalk knew that today, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) was going to confirm new guidelines that effectively force internet service providers (ISPs) to make broadband contract pricing more transparent.
TalkTalk to simplify broadband prices by including line rental
Line rental is one of the things you have to consider when taking out a broadband contract, since they almost always come hand in hand. But with these two separate monthly fees, one-off setup charges and introductory discounts, you need ten minutes and a calculator to figure out exactly what you're being asked to pay. TalkTalk has pledged today, however, that this autumn it's going to make everything that bit simpler, by bundling line rental and broadband costs into one, transparent monthly price for all of its packages.
Verizon policy: switch from copper to fiber, or no fix for you
It won't shock you to hear that Verizon is not so fond of copper phone lines (just ask those left out in the cold after Hurricane Sandy), but it's now clear exactly how the carrier plans to make you ditch those old wires. The Philadelphia Inquirer has obtained documents detailing a longstanding "Fiber is the Only Fix" policy that effectively forces you to move to a fiber optic connection if you want assistance. If you ask for repairs on copper phone service in an area where fiber is available, technicians are supposed to tell you that the only remedy is to move to the newer technology. Decline, and you won't get any help -- Verizon's official stance is to refuse repairs on copper.
Google's 'Fiber Phone' is a new kind of land line
Practically nobody, save perhaps your grandparents, still uses a landline. But that's not stopping Google from rolling out a brand new home phone service. On Tuesday, the company announced the new Google Fiber Phone, which works nearly identically to its mobile Fi service.
Phone companies ditching copper wires will have to follow the rules
The age of the copper land-line is nearing its end, but traditional phone lines aren't going quietly: new rules from the FCC now require service providers notify customers of the impending removal and drawbacks of switching to a VOIP line three months before killing a copper network. It sounds like a reasonable move -- customers need to know that the technology replacing their traditional land-line won't work during a power-outage without an external power source -- but not everybody at the FCC is happy with the new rules.
0800 numbers are now free to call from mobiles
Before dialling an unfamiliar service number, many of us feel an overwhelming sense of dread. Not just for 0800 and 0808 "freephone" numbers, which are now free to call from a mobile, but numbers starting with 084, 087 and 09 too. From experience, you know what they represent: expensive call charges. Worse yet, it's almost impossible to know how much you'll be spending. When the latter are advertised on TV, you'll usually hear something along the lines of: "Calls cost 50p from a BT landline. Other landlines may vary and calls from mobiles may cost considerably more." It's confusing because the costs vary wildly depending on your operator and the number you're calling, and neither charge is explained properly in advance. Most of us just dial the number anyway and hope for the best, or try to avoid the call entirely. It's a mess, but from today everything is going to change. Ofcom has introduced a new system that makes call charges simpler to figure out.
Switching your broadband supplier just got really easy
When Ofcom announced that consumers can ditch their contract if broadband speeds aren't as advertised, it also said it would also make changing providers even easier. This new "one touch" process comes into effect today, finally putting the responsibility of switching onto the company you wish to join. Under the new system, canceling your contract is a thing of the past (if you haven't agreed to a minimum term) and as long as your new provider requires a BT phone line, like EE, Sky and TalkTalk do, then they will handle the rest.
BT's new home phone is as smart as your Android mobile
Now that smartphones have become personal companions, landline usage has understandably dropped. BT launched an Android-powered home phone, complete with smart call-blocking features and apps, in an attempt to lure people back, but because it only offered downloads via Opera's app store, choice was severely limited. With the BT Home SmartPhone S II, it appears the company has learned from its mistakes. It's partnered with Google to offer access to the Play Store, while Facebook, Twitter and BT Sport apps are already bundled. It means that you'll be able to watch Premier League football if the main TV is out of action, but also download your favourite apps and games -- as long as you're connected to WiFi. At £169.99, BT's Home SmartPhone S II is a little more expensive than Motorola's current-generation Moto G, meaning you really must be intent on making the most of your landline for this handset to make any fiscal sense.
TalkTalk app lets customers use their landline package on a smartphone
Now that everyone and their dog has a mobile, landlines are less communication tool, more compulsory conduit for getting broadband at home. Free weekend calls and other concessions that come with landlines are usually wasted, but just as BT and Virgin Media did last year, TalkTalk has today announced a new app that lets its customers use their landline minutes and perks on their mobiles. The Talk2Go app, which has been knocking around the Android and iOS app stores for the past month, allows anyone with a TalkTalk landline to make calls over 3G, 4G and WiFi. Users may find it the cheaper calling option, depending on their home phone plan, or at least take comfort in knowing conversations aren't eating into their precious mobile minutes allowance. And because it can handle calls over WiFi like Three's inTouch or O2's TU Go apps, you don't need a mobile signal as long as you're in range of a hotspot.
Panasonic Link-to-Cell Docking Station for iPhone
Some of us who haven't been able to give up the old landline phone are "blessed" with an overabundance of handsets. Not only do we have our iPhones with us all the time, but there are also handsets scattered about so when a landline call comes in -- usually a phone solicitation -- we can grab it. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to just have one handset that you'd have to use around the house? That's the idea behind the Panasonic KX-PRL262 Link-to-Cell Docking Station for iPhone (US$199.95), which allows you to link up to two iPhone 5 handsets (5/5s/5c) to your landline base station via Bluetooth. Specifications Frequency: 1.92 - 1.93 GHz (DECT), 2.402 - 2.8 GHz (Bluetooth) Channels: 60 System: DECT 6.0 Number of handsets: 2 included, plus 2 iPhones can be linked Charging capability: Lightning compatible Base station dimensions: 6.3 x 3.94 x 4.53 inches (160 mm x 100 mm x 115 mm) Base station weight: .73 lb (330 grams) Handset dimensions: 1.77 x .91 x 6.1 inches (45 mm x 23 mm x 155 mm) Handset weight: .24 lb (110 grams) Includes stereo speaker in base for Bluetooth streaming of music, which can be controlled via handset Voice mail (answering machine) built in Call blocking for up to 250 numbers Ability for the handsets to be used as "key finders" when used with optional Bluetooth key detectors Design Highlights The KX-PRL262 is a nice-looking unit. Black shiny plastic and bright color displays on the handsets make the entire thing look, well, modern. One of the handsets goes on the base unit, the other has its own little charging base that you can put elsewhere in your home or office. Of course, on the base is an adjustable Lightning charging post. The KX-PRL262 is MFi (Made For iPhone) certified by Apple, and I was able to place my Mophie Juice Pack Helium-equipped iPhone 5s onto the charger after taking the bottom of the case off. Functionality Highlights Setting up the KX-PRL262 was simple, and I didn't need to look at the instructions. Pairing with my iPhone was also simple -- there's a very logical and easy-to-understand (English and Español) menu system on the handsets, and I was able to navigate to Bluetooth and pair my iPhone in seconds. For testing purposes, I also set up my wife's iPhone 5s as "cell 2" on the unit. A green LED appears on the base unit for each iPhone when they are within Bluetooth range. I won't go through all of the functions of the KX-PRL262, since we're an Apple site, not a landline wireless phone review site. But what I was able to accomplish with the iPhones that were paired to the Link-to-Cell Docking Station was pretty impressive. First, there's a function that will move all of your contact names and phone numbers (up to three per contact) from your iPhone's Contacts app to the base unit. That's great; I have over a thousand contact cards and it moved all of the contacts with phone numbers corresponding to them over to the base unit in about five minutes. Once again, this function was easy to do. For the contacts on my wife's iPhone, the import put her contacts into a "cell 2" subdirectory while mine were in "cell 1". Next, I tried the music dock function. I didn't even need to select the dock in AirPlay -- once I pressed the play button on my iPhone, the music began streaming from the base station. I have to admit that the audio quality wasn't the best, but it was passable. Let's face it, the speaker on the base station is optimized for voice calls, not for music. It's fun to note that you can use one of the KX-PRL262 handsets as a remote for the music playback, raising and lowering the volume, skipping tracks, or pausing play. But the big test was for what the KX-PRL262 is designed for -- taking incoming cell phone calls and transferring them seamlessly to the home handset. Why would you want to do this in the first place instead of just answering the cell phone calls on the iPhone? Well, if your house is like mine, there are areas where the cell phone reception is horrible. I could place my iPhone on the base station for charging in a location where cell phone service is much better, and use the Panasonic's handset to pick up the call. Even if my iPhone is in a pocket or bag, I could still answer it on the "landline" handsets. How did this work? When calls came in on either one of the iPhones, both of the Panasonic handsets rang and displayed the name of the iPhone that was being called. Pressing a "cell" button on the handset let me pick up the call, essentially transferring it from the iPhone to the home handset. Now, if my iPhone is in my pocket or sitting on the base station charging, how do I know if an SMS text message is coming in? Easy -- there's a function that allows you to get notification on the Panasonic handsets. Unfortunately this does not work with iMessages; only with SMS text messages. Conclusion The Panasonic KX-PRL262 Link-to-Cell Docking Station for iPhone serves a need for those who need both a landline and an iPhone (or two) by allowing the Panasonic handsets to answer both incoming landline and iPhone calls. It has an incredibly full feature set that I was unable to even scratch the surface of in this review, and can be expanded with options that range from additional handsets to key detectors. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Viber now lets you make calls to any phone number
Viber's quest to become the VoIP app du jour has taken another leap forward with the news that, with Version 4.1 its iOS and Android apps, you're now entitled to make calls to any mobile or landline number. The service, entitled Viber Out, was previously made available during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan to help affected users contact their families, but has now rolled out to all, giving you a cheaper alternative (depending on where you're calling) to Microsoft's Skype Out service. To make things as easy as possible, Viber Out will connect itself to your phone number, letting recipients identify your call. It also allows balance top-ups via its mobile and desktop apps to help you keep on top of call costs. Viber says the updated iOS and Android apps will go live today, with Windows Phone support following soon, ensuring Microsoft has some real competition on its own turf.
Sprint launches $50 cordless phone set for its landline-alternative service
Since 2011, Sprint's Phone Connect service has been catering to the needs of those not quite ready to ditch their desk phones. The landline alternative works with any home or cordless phone, but those who lack either might want to check out the company's new Phone Connect System, which bundles it with hardware. Anyone who signs up for the offering will get a set of two cordless phones for $50 along with a new line or an upgrade of an existing Connect contract. Take note that the amount only covers the devices, and a line will cost an additional $20 a month, excluding taxes. According to the telco, the phones work just like their traditional counterparts so there should be no learning curve -- unless it's been so long that you've forgotten how to use one.
This week on gdgt: Moto X, Sony's X900A and a gold iPhone
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
