Dropping the Land Line
By: Tech Believes
Three weeks ago, we did something new. Something daring. We called our land-line phone company and told them, “Thanks, but no thanks. We’re done.†And that was it. Now, if you happen to dial our old home phone number, you will get nothing but that familiar tri-tone error message along with a recorded message telling you “This number is no longer in service.â€
We’re exclusively a cell-phone household now.
But apparently, our move wasn’t exactly so new or so daring. In fact, as AP reports today, “In a high-tech shift accelerated by the recession, the number of U.S. households opting for only cell phones has for the first time surpassed those that just have traditional landlines.†Many households, 60%, still use both landlines and cell phones. But even that number is changing.
Although the article cites the ‘recession’ as a motivating factor for the wireless-only switch, many are doing so for other reasons. I saw a few dollar decrease in my monthly bill (we weren’t about to cut our high-speed Internet access), but I have not noticed any set-back from not having a land line. In fact, it is more of a convenience issue for me. It’s one less voicemail that I have to check. Besides, if I ever called from my land line, I ended up having to pull the number from my cell phone address book anyway.
If someone has a cell phone, why increase the work, the hassle, and the costs by throwing a land line in the mix? Many land line owners claim that their land phones serve as a call-collection center for telemarketers, little more. Another strike against land lines has to do with housing situations. If one is in a mobile situation—renting or living in temporary housing—it makes little sense to set up a permanent land line.
Obviously, there are compelling reasons for hanging on to the land line. However, as the numbers suggest, our society is going more and more wireless—exclusively.