MrTangent
join:2001-12-28
Earth
| The only problem...
Land lines are way more reliable than cellular and VOIP technologies and for that reason I'll never get rid of my land line. VOIP is interesting, but I don't think the technology is there yet. You're still tied to a physical connection (i.e. DSL/cable/DirectWay) so the mobility aspect is negated. Secondly, the ability to make calls to regular phones is still somewhat lacking.
All in all, I think people who don't have a physical land line are asking for trouble in cases of emergency. Solar flares have been known to take out cellular/satellite communications, leaving some users stranded in times of crisis.
They used to say that "ISDN" stood for technology "I Still Don't Need". I think VOIP is the new ISDN, at least currently. With that said, it will be interesting to watch it unfold. It will also be beneficial in forcing the phone companies to lower prices. Which, as Martha "Thug Life 4eva" Stewart would say, "is a good thing."
--
"War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength" |
|
chd176
join:2003-01-10
Winfield, AL
 ·CenturyLink
| another thing about dropping copper for cellphone is the number of mins you can use...sure it has gotten a lot better but still for the amount you pay for 1 line of copper you might spend twice as much on a cell phone if most of your local (free on most copper lines) calls are BEFORE 9PM (or 7PM if you opt. to get that with Cingular) you can run into a lot of money...more so if you have other members in your family...and I can't comment on VOIP service as I have never used them...but until cell phone providers realize the importance of unlimited anytime mins I would say not having a landline is for the birds.
--
Sotec 1.2 Mhz, 224 MB RAM, DW6000, windows XP home, Direcway SRS, G3C, signal 75 |
|
Bill Clo
join:2002-01-15
Lewisberry, PA
| reply to MrTangent
As much as I'd like to be able to get rid of my landline, it is MUCH more reliable than my cable connection. I swear, it seems that every time we get a major thunderstorm or storm front through here, my cable Internet goes down. Not the cable tv picture, mind you, that's been pretty reliable, but the Net access goes down.
So I can't count on my Net access/VOIP being up when I may really need it. |
|
ksampling
join:2003-07-23
Cleveland, OH | i know what you mean my connection goes down but not my cable |
|
Omega
Displaced Ohioan
Premium
join:2002-07-30
Cheyenne, WY
clubs: 
 ·Bresnan Online
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to MrTangent
I agree, I like my landline, and for now I plan on having it for a while.
There is no need to give it up, espcially if you have DSL. One thing I do not see myself having is a long distance service provider. Why pay when your cell phone does it for free?
--
"The doctor's X-Rayed my head and found nothing" |
|
wentlanc
You Can't Fix Dumb..
join:2003-07-30
Maineville, OH
| reply to chd176
Nextel offers "free incoming" plans that have unlimited incoming calls. You could almost be completely free of land line service, and possibly saving money on minutes, depending on your situation. I have a family, so one cell phone is not enough. I need at least two cell phones. And I can't get cable modem, so ditching the landline for VOIP is pertty much out of the question.
puritan |
|
DoubleK
Doublek
join:2003-03-04
Beloit, WI
clubs: | reply to Omega
Or better yet get a five cents per minute WalMart calling card which will also serve quite nicely as a calling card when the cellie is dead or out of range. |
|
tonekilla
Pipe Dreams
Premium
join:2003-07-26
Gunnison, MS
clubs:
| reply to wentlanc
Although it is a much smaller company than Nextel, Cellular South also offers this feature, as well as FREE Nights and Weekends and other good features. Downside is the cost of long distance on this network, since they only operate in parts of the south. Their pricing plans are here though:
»estore.cellularsouth.com/ |
|
geoffs
join:2000-12-25
3702
| reply to DoubleK
Or, even better yet... get a 2.9 cents per minute Sprint calling card from Costco 
I just program the speed dial buttons on my home phone to the toll-free phone # and calling card # and then I just have to push 2 buttons to call long distance using my land line... |
|
Orwell 1984
@rr.com
| reply to chd176
A lot of people are in my position. I need a cell phone for work. Being a cheap bastard I don't want to pay for the same service twice. Since a landline cannot ever come even close to replacing a cell the decision is a no brainer. The phone companies are going to end up like the railroads. (propped up at tax payer expense) As fewer people have landlines the price to the remainder will go up causing more defections in an ever increasing cascade effect. Sell all of your phone company stock soon. |
|
SOLdesign
Did I drink a shot of Irrational Whore?
Premium
join:2002-07-29
Woodland Hills, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to MrTangent
said by MrTangent  :
All in all, I think people who don't have a physical land line are asking for trouble in cases of emergency. Solar flares have been known to take out cellular/satellite communications, leaving some users stranded in times of crisis.
whatever
in that case knock next door and use someone elses phone - PacBell aint getting anymore of my money.
--
-I need a beer. Soon. |
|
MrTangent
join:2001-12-28
Earth
| said by SOLdesign :
whatever
in that case knock next door and use someone elses phone - PacBell aint getting anymore of my money.
What if no one has a land line? Recent (over the past few years) sunspots have knocked out satellite communications and left millions potentially without cell phone access. If an extreme weather or terrorist event happened simultaneous to a massive disruption (intentional or not) in cell phone access it could have deadly consequences. If people are not able to contact others in times of disaster the effects can multiply tenfold (i.e. chaos reigns).
But hey, if you don't want a land line, that's your prerogative. Personally I can't really stand cell phones. I'm warming up to them, but they cut out so much as to drive me insane. That and cell phone users make me want to go postal (i.e. people not turning their f'ing phones off at movie theatres, talking loudly in libraries and book stores, etc.). I think 98% of conversations can just wait until you get home...
--
"War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength" |
|
Rebecca0924
join:2003-11-12
Napa, CA
|  reply to chd176
I have to say I agree with the need for a land line in some cases, but not all. Most of my friends do not even have a landline, which actually I find quite nice. I don't have to call 2 numbers if they're not at one and I know where ever they are I can reach them. The only problem I have run into is that when my children are home with a babysitter I need to have a phone for emergencies or so that I can check in on them. That's tough. For that reason I do have a land line and probably will until my daughter is responsible enough to have her own cell phone. But other than that it never gets used. And even though my cell may not get great reception everywhere, I can't take my land line anywhere. |
|
btrdad
join:2003-11-14
Bristol, PA
|  reply to SOLdesign
Voip caught my attention in a big way. With all my landline calling features and (FREE) long distance, my phone bill ran close to $80 a month. With my new Voip from Vonage, I pay $27 a month for all the calling features I like (including free voice mail) which INCLUDINS tax. I have not had a single problem yet. I was very impressed when I simply plugged my phone into the Vonage adapter and instantly had tone and was able to make crystal clear calls. Good bye land line hello Voip. I'll let you know what happens next time a solar flare passes by... in the mean time I have my cell phone just in case. |
|
