OT - do I need a land line phone?

[Mudcat]

I have a land line and a cell phone. But whenever I am in a position to use the land line, the cell phone is also there. Seems redundant.

I can't think of why I need the land line however most people I know have a land line so I guess there is a reason.

Can anyone discuss the angles on this?

[Sinister Cat]

If your cell phone gets good reception in your house, you are good about keeping your phone charged, and if the long-distance calling on your cell is cost effective, then I'd say there's no real reason to have a landline.

[DwightShrute]

land lines are so 90's

[BestPlay2day]

You don't need a land line if you don't use it for internet connection. I know many people that just have their cell phone as their only phone including my brother. Seems like most younger kids just use their cell phone, makes me think about getting better cell phones and cancel my landline. I do use the land line for DSL and the phone calls are clearer on the land line but is it worth the cost?

[SBR Lou]

There are a few reasons why a land line may be a good idea.

If you randomly lose service on phone, or lose service ever, nice to have a landline around.

If you sign up for different services, whatever they may be, and you don't want people calling your cell when you are out or whatever, just put down your land line # and have it go straight to voicemail.

Also, DSL service, but Cable internet is better anyway.

[pavyracer]

Land lines in 2009 are what public telephone booths where in 1999. Obsolete.

[RogueScholar]

I keep mine for one simple reason: 911. I've got a hard-phone in every room of my house and should someone break in or I collapse in a seizure and awake unable to move my legs, I know I have a phone within a few feet of me that will connect me to the county's emergency services department directly. I won't be wishing I had my cell phone with me instead of having left it in the truck or on the kitchen counter. Even if I had my cell I would talk to a Verizon operator upon calling 911 instead of the local people that I need. It's really an insignificant expense for that piece of mind.

[Reload]

I went without one for 6 years and had no problems. The only reason I have one in now is just because it's bundled together with the rest of the cable/internet and I use it for maybe 1 outgoing call every few months.

[CashMoney]

Wihout a landline no way you are getting any sort of major financing. No landline no mortgage, etc.

[DwightShrute]

Wihout a landline no way you are getting any sort of major financing. No landline no mortgage, etc.

[Mudcat]

I keep mine for one simple reason: 911. I've got a hard-phone in every room of my house and should someone break in or I collapse in a seizure and awake unable to move my legs, I know I have a phone within a few feet of me that will connect me to the county's emergency services department directly. I won't be wishing I had my cell phone with me instead of having left it in the truck or on the kitchen counter. Even if I had my cell I would talk to a Verizon operator upon calling 911 instead of the local people that I need. It's really an insignificant expense for that piece of mind.

Reminds me of that commercial I used to see with the old lady who wipes out in her house. "I fell and I can't get up."

I forget what that commercial is actually selling - some kind of emergency alert thing - maybe you need that.

Sorry if it seems like I am making fun. I just never would have thought in those extreme terms. You give me these visions that you are living on the constant brink of disaster, like maybe your house is on the edge of a cliff that is eroding away day-by day.





Anyway thanks for all the responses. I guess there are a few cons but I have pretty much decided to get rid of the land line.

[RogueScholar]

Not really anything that serious, Muddy. It's just a mindset that you cultivate living here where there are very few people. We have 16 residents per square mile on the coast, and with the nearest hospital and Sheriff's station nearly a half hour away, you realize just how vulnerable you are when isolated. It's that mindfulness that makes me cling to methods of contact with the outside world.

[flyingillini]

I haven't had a land line in years. The only thing that sucks for me is, I live in a gated community and if someone rings me at the gate it doesn't connect to a cell phone, a land line is needed. I could care less about that though. I say get rid of the land line.

[Dark Horse]

I tossed out the cell phone. I couldn't for the life of me decide what was so necessary about it, or what it did that other gizmos don't.

(I do have a cell phone somewhere, but it doesn't count. I never take it with me. lol)

I live in a gated community too. So there you have it! It opens the gate!!

[Matt Rain]

My cell phone started dropping every other call the minute I deactivated my land line some 5 years ago. I smell a conspiracy.

Have to run to my balcony to answer a call. Yay technology.

[Matt Rain]

Wihout a landline no way you are getting any sort of major financing. No landline no mortgage, etc.

Ever heard of credit cards? Even monthly cell phone accounts appear on your credit report.

[pavyracer]

One thing when dropping a land line it screws up the alarm system monitoring service where they call the police if the alarm goes off. It's more expensive to get the service with wireless and also it wouldn't work when you are not home. So keep that in mind if having an alarm service is important to you before you drop the line.

[flyingillini]

I know all about that Pavy, I have to pay an extra $230.00 per year for my alarm

[Wayfarer]

I believe that cell phones do not work during a wide spread power outage, land lines do.

For cost reasons though I am thinking of dropping my landline as well.

[CashMoney]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CashMoney
Wihout a landline no way you are getting any sort of major financing. No landline no mortgage, etc.

Not all of us are total degenerates.

[DwightShrute]

Not all of us are total degenerates.

I thought that you were kidding. Seriously. I don't get your degenerates comment, it makes no sense at all and it would be like me calling you a pedophile.

I can just see the it. I need to add new deck a to million dollar beach house, I go to my banker and he agrees to lend me the 100,000, just as I grab the check and head out of the bank, he says Dwight, what's your home number by the way? I tell him that I only have a cell and then he demands the check back and tells me to take my business elsewhere.

[Mudcat]

Here's how out-to lunch I am. I needed this thread to remind me that my apartment's buzzing in system works through the land line.

I guess I have to keep it. Duuhhhh.

I surprise myself sometimes with how out to lunch I can be. Glad I started the thread though.

[Slim]

A land line saved my ass today. My internet was down so i had to use the land line to go on the internet and bet the 4pm games. It was slow as shit but I got my bets in.

[DwightShrute]

A land line saved my ass today. My internet was down so i had to use the land line to go on the internet and bet the 4pm games. It was slow as shit but I got my bets in.

Now the big question is: did you win the bets or would it have turned out better if you couldn't make em?

[Mac4Lyfe]

If you want to get a phone line on the cheap. Look into MagicJack. It uses the internet as its a voice over IP (VOIP) product but you can't beat the price. For like $100 you get service for like 5 years. That's less than $2 a month. You have to have internet service. I have a cable modem and use the magicjack with it. If you disconnect your main phone line from the junction box, you can plug the magicjack into one of your wall jacks and have service at any other wall jack.

You can take the magicjack anywhere. I took it to Italy and Fance last month and I made calls to the states for free. People were able to call me on my same phone number and it rang in my hotel. This is much better than vonage, packet8, etc...

[Sinister Cat]

You can take the magicjack anywhere. I took it to Italy and Fance last month and I made calls to the states for free. People were able to call me on my same phone number and it rang in my hotel. This is much better than vonage, packet8, etc...

Your description sounds identical to Vonage actually... though I'm paying like $23/month or something for Vonage.

[Sinister Cat]

Here's how out-to lunch I am. I needed this thread to remind me that my apartment's buzzing in system works through the land line.

Might be the case that:
(a) you could have it ring your cell phone; or
(b) if it's hardwired to your land line, that it will still work for that purpose even if you canceled your service with your provider.

[pico]

Land lines in 2009 are what public telephone booths where in 1999. Obsolete.

people use public phones to make drug deals

[tacomax]

Your description sounds identical to Vonage actually... though I'm paying like $23/month or something for Vonage.

With MJ you need your PC on 24/7 and call quality worse than Vonage. Vonage quality is poor in the first place. I'm going to buy an Ooma system - $200 upfront and no charges for up to 3 years (assuming they stay in business).

[losturmarbles]

i've got a magicjack, the quality has improved a bit lately. (maybe just my isp)
i used to get an echo sometimes, you hear yourself talking back what you said. after a while you seem to ignore it. but last few times i've used it, i didnt hear the echo.

but it's more of just a backup to the cell phone. $20/year

like mac said, you can take it with you anywhere, and use it over the internet. a skype phone will do that also. but i think you pay per minute with it.

[Scorpion]

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Phones-Fax/Telephones/Bluetooth-Enabled-Systems/model.KX-TH1212B_11002_7000000000000005702

Your Cell Phone is Your Lifeline. Now, It's Your Home Line, Too!

Link-to-Cell DECT 6.0 Expandable Bluetooth®-Enabled Phone System with Landline Capability and 2 Handsets

[Slim]

Now the big question is: did you win the bets or would it have turned out better if you couldn't make em?

I'd be better off not making those bets.