Is there any compelling reason to keep my land line phone?
Asked by
simon (
308
)
July 9th, 2008
I’m tempted to disconnect my land line phone. I don’t call out on it at all and very seldom does anyone call me on it, maybe once every two months.
Are there any worthwhile reasons to keep it? For 911 calls? For proof of resisdence? So various politicians can leave me messages to vote for them? Some other reason? I see several old threads that people have done it, but not much on any downside or reasons not to do it.
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14 Answers
I removed all of the “extras” from my landline but keep it in case of emergencies (to call 911). It’s like $18 a month.
I use my cell exclusively.
I haven’t had a land line in about 4 years, and not once have I needed one. I get politician and survey calls, so if you don’t want to miss out on those you don’t have to worry. I can also call 911 with no problems. I guess if one day all the satellites stop working I’d be screwed.
No reason if you get decent reception on cell and don’t have frequent power outages. (As I do in a rural area. The land line with a cord has been a life-saver when I am plunged into darkness and nothing works but one flush w. each toilet.)
I switched off my land-line service and transferred my number to a Vonage account. Great for continuity, especially if you are planning to move.
I also have a regular cell and a Blackberry, but I use those mostly for work. I despise them both.
@trudacia-so you actually pay $216 per year just to have a “backup” access to 911?!
The way the technology is moving, giving up land for cell may not be the right move. If you have a landline you may be able to go wireless outside the house and convert back when you return home. Here is one blog that talks about a few disadvantages.
Here is another:
Larry King Tonight Talks About Cell Phone Danger
“Advisor AllMyAngels had posted on my blog about his show tonight. I caught the last part of it but it replays on CNN in another two hours. Famed attorney Johnnie Cochran’s widow was on the show with three doctors. She suspects that her late husband who died of a brain tumor was due to his excessive cell phone use. There are also studies around the world about cell phone danger.
The FDA states the same thing that I have been saying all along.Wear a non battery operated ear piece. Put your phone in an industry approved holster. Do not put your phone in your pockets.
Published Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:30 PM by askdrdonna”
@Knot; I grew up with that phone (with NO attachments.) We rented two from Ma Bell in 1944 and they stayed in perfect working order until my mother sold the house in 1980.
If my father tried to call home and the line was busy, when he got home from work, he would scold us (usually me) for the unnecessary gabbing.
@gail- there’s something comforting and right about a heavy bakelite handset.
onomatopoeia: ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiip-click-click-click-click. ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip-click-click-click-click-click. Rotary had a touch of elegance, organic and comforting, yet unforgiving. Touch-tones are gauche.
@Knot: The only phone number I remember is that (LArchmont 2–3715)
At some point after I left home, my much (by 10 yrs) younger sister got a white version with a different number. “So unfair,” I thought. I had the curfew, I had the limited use of family phone, I had to knock on my parents’ bedroom door when I got home from a date, I had parietial rules at college. My sister had sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
@gc The whine of the oldest sibling. I know it well as I have given voice to it myself many times!
Of course you should keep your land line phone and number. Telephone companies are now offering local number portability in order for a subscriber to switch between carriers so as not to lose his/her number. They wouldn’t offer such a service if they know land line phones are not an essential part of a household.
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