Landline - yes or no?
- Thread starter Paula
- Start date
We have one. We have 2 cell phones (probably three soon) but wanted to keep a land line. But we didn't want to pay a ton of money for it either. We dropped digital phone when we dropped our digital cable/phone/internet package. We kept the internet but decided we didn't need the cable TV or the phone. We decided to go with Verizon's Home Phone Connect, which is a landline that doesn't depend on our internet connection. (We've had Magic Jack but if your internet goes out, so does your phone connection.) Home Phone Connect only costs us $20/month but I think it's $10/month if you're willing to change your Verizon contract. (We have cell phones through Verizon and are grandfathered into the unlimited plan and we wanted to keep that for now.) At any rate, it's definitely cheaper than digital phone through the cable company. I imagine that eventually Verizon will make us switch our cell phone plan (like when we upgrade phones).
ripal
New member
We have very basic service on landline... no long distance, no caller id, no call waiting.
Just few months ago, we ran into situation that made us more aware of why we need to keep the landline... and to make sure that at least one one phone is corded and not cordless!
One morning, my dad called me at work from his cell phone, but I could barely hear him. I called right back and couldn't make the connection. I called on home phone and no answer. My mom is always home, so that made me wonder if they were out shopping or something and were trapped or something. He drives old van, so it was possible that it wasn't started and needed me to pick him up. My brother and his wife were on their out-of-country trip. He called me few more times and I could barely hear him. This was over 2-3 hours. I REALLY started to worry about them by this point. I wasn't able to make contact with them. It wasn't like them to be out for that long. And if they did, they wouldn't have a reason to call me multiple times. Finally, I was able to make out what he was telling me ( I think he went outside of home to call me at that time) at one point... they had power outage. I called the power company and found out that due to some accident in their neighborhood, over 400 homes had lost power since 9 AM and won't be excepting back till 6 PM or so.
THAT explained the whole thing. They don't have good cell reception, so they're using cell booster. Of course, due to power outage, their cell phones weren't working well. And their landline phone didn't work because all of them were cordless! First thing we did was to get a corded phone!
Just few months ago, we ran into situation that made us more aware of why we need to keep the landline... and to make sure that at least one one phone is corded and not cordless!
One morning, my dad called me at work from his cell phone, but I could barely hear him. I called right back and couldn't make the connection. I called on home phone and no answer. My mom is always home, so that made me wonder if they were out shopping or something and were trapped or something. He drives old van, so it was possible that it wasn't started and needed me to pick him up. My brother and his wife were on their out-of-country trip. He called me few more times and I could barely hear him. This was over 2-3 hours. I REALLY started to worry about them by this point. I wasn't able to make contact with them. It wasn't like them to be out for that long. And if they did, they wouldn't have a reason to call me multiple times. Finally, I was able to make out what he was telling me ( I think he went outside of home to call me at that time) at one point... they had power outage. I called the power company and found out that due to some accident in their neighborhood, over 400 homes had lost power since 9 AM and won't be excepting back till 6 PM or so.
THAT explained the whole thing. They don't have good cell reception, so they're using cell booster. Of course, due to power outage, their cell phones weren't working well. And their landline phone didn't work because all of them were cordless! First thing we did was to get a corded phone!
We got rid of ours in '05. No sense in it every time we move. Totally useless overseas. We each have a cell and the kids have ipods they text with. 
We tried the magic jack but it really sucks in Korea. For us iPhones with imessage is the greatest thing since it doesn't count as texts and works with ipods and around the world. Plus I'm not really a talkative person. I'd rather just someone text. We have internet and Netflix, we don't have cable or any tv service. I think its a personal thing with what fits your lifestyle.
We tried the magic jack but it really sucks in Korea. For us iPhones with imessage is the greatest thing since it doesn't count as texts and works with ipods and around the world. Plus I'm not really a talkative person. I'd rather just someone text. We have internet and Netflix, we don't have cable or any tv service. I think its a personal thing with what fits your lifestyle.
rachaelsscraps
New member
We have our two cell phones, no landline. We have our high speed internet through our cable (we have the highest speed available in this area). So for two cell phones and our internet and cable (with additional channels added) those bills total about $250-260 a month. Once we buy our farm we're getting rid of our cable and knocking $90 off those We're in VT where the cost of living is pretty low compared to other states
(We've been together since 2005 and have never had a landline, just our cell phones)
We're in VT where the cost of living is pretty low compared to other states(We've been together since 2005 and have never had a landline, just our cell phones)
staciahall
New member
I kept a landline for years for my security system. Then the security company told me about the alternative of a dedicated cellular signal for the system that cost about $20 a month more. So I dropped the $55 landline bill and haven't looked back. It was so nice during election times this year, no telemarketers at all.
xboxmom
Active member
We have both because my 12 year old daughter doesn't have a cell phone nor my other younger kids and I hate that their friends call my cell phone so yes we have a landline still. My husband has been begging me to get rid of it and I said thats fine as long as all the kids friends call your cell phone....so we still have the landline. LOL
navaja77
Member
No landline here for several years. DH and I have cell phones (and pretty good reception), we have DirecTv (and thinking to switch entirely to Roku but not sure yet) and using a local company for internet. We do have Vonage just to have a home phone number and for people to leave voicemail. For some reason, offices and the school are still hung up on us listing a home # 
color of my heart
New member
we don't have one. we both have cellphones, so we don't see the point to have the extra expense.
my parents have one, but my mother has gone back and forth between getting rid of it. i think the phone/internet/cable is bundled right now, and that's the only reason they still have it.
my parents have one, but my mother has gone back and forth between getting rid of it. i think the phone/internet/cable is bundled right now, and that's the only reason they still have it.