Why don't you buy a VOIP phone solution?
Why do you keep your old-fashioned land line?
Personally -
- I don't have a security alarm.
- 911 (e911) will work appropriately for my area.
- It will save me $50+/month.
- I have two mobile phones as a backup in case my internet connection goes down.
I can't think of anything else. I think I am going to buy an Ooma in the next week unless I can think of something. From what I can tell, I am just wasting money with AT&T...
Thanks for your input.
by
dgrimmer
asked 4 months ago
I have a home phone line only because I have DSL and it would actually cost more to not have a phone line. They're basically giving out home phone service in an attempt to stay relevant.
It's not working.
I don't bother with a landline, but my parents have had voip for a few years and have had no issues. Unless cable goes out a lot where you are I don't see any reason not to go with it.
I have VOIP through my cable company, does that count?
My wife and I only have cell phones. Why would we need VOIP or a landline? (I'm asking that honestly)
@rprebel: i'm with at&t on a land line. they use to have that as their policy too, but it has since changed.
i have the land line so that when i have to give a number for people that i know are going to spam me, i can just let them talk to the answering maching. also most of your credit accounts, etc are tied to your land line. if you change your primary number you have to prove to each one individually that you are in fact you. big hassle.
I've been looking at the Obi110 voip box (http://www.amazon.com/OBi110-Service-Bridge-Telephone-Adapter/dp/B0045RMEPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327273034&sr=1-1). It'll tie in with google voice for basically free voip after the $50 initial investment. I had been waiting because I had heard google was changing their terms of service after the new year. I haven't gotten rid of our land line because we've had this number for 20 years, and for 911. Land line service is also a time-tested technology which frequently keeps working when everything else goes down.
We keep a landline for our fax machine and for 911. I don't know what it's like elsewhere, but in our area if you call 911 from your cell phone you will be on hold indefinitely and when someone finally answers it's the California Highway Patrol. I've never had to call 911 from my home but I'm glad to know it's there.
@moosezilla: Thx for the info. I guess there's still a few reasons to have one...just none to actually use it to talk to people lol.
@ohcheri: what!? that is ridiculous. I've thankfully never had to call 911 here in Seattle, but back in NY it was no problem from a cell phone.
@rprebel: you dont need home phoen to have DSL, my mom just did it. its called dry loop, see if its available!
@drsilentg: It is, they just charge more* for a dry loop.
*possibly, see @moosezilla
Just set up my Ooma today. Was real easy. Hopefully it will save me some money. Also after I registered it and set it up I received two emails, one from an actual tech support rep. and another from a customer service rep. both gave me their email and direct phone line should I need help and the best part was neither was named Peggy.
I just got rid of the home phone, and switch to VOIP. I wish I had done it sooner, and saved a ton of money. I am actually happier with the additional services I now get for free: Voice-mail, Caller ID, and e-mail transcription of messages. Can't beat it.
The only issue I had was porting the old number, I had to keep both services active for a week until it took place.
I haven't had a land line phone in about 10 years. Don't miss it a bit. I have a cell phone, wife has a cell phone (family plan, of course). I don't fax, I have DSL internet, my cell phone makes 911 calls. If you think you might miss a land line or worry about running out your cell phone battery while at home, get a DECT phone set with a link to cell feature (like this, maybe - http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG7622B-Bluetooth-Cordless-Handsets/dp/B004NBZDTA/ref=pd_cp_e_0 ).
wife and I gave up land lines about 10 or 11 years ago. Tried voip for a year around 2009, but never made or received a single call on it, so got rid of it.
Our internet is fiberoptic with battery backup, so if cel service is out, I guess we could use voip, but that hasn't happened yet (cel service out).
We do have an unused cel phone in the kitchen that is always charging that can be used to call 911 even though it doesn't have service.
@sstaylor: i went with the obi110 and google voice about 2 months ago. it works but i think i am going to get the ooma. google uses a codec that uses less bandwidth but doesn't have great voice quality. sometimes the caller thinks i have hung up on them. caller id is only the number of the person calling. the phone will ring but then no one is there when i answer. so if you can tolerate a few issues obi is OK and it is totally free once you buy the box. ooma will charge me $4.42/month in fees/taxes.
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