# Do you still use a landline? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417 "2009-07-18T06:26:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/41 "2009-07-19T00:14:03Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Yup, our home phone is a landline (though the phones are all cordless scattered throughout the house). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone hunt for 1 of 3 phones because their kids wandered off with them. Instead of buying new phones every time the batteries die and endless hours of looking for them I think it would be better to buy good corded phones with extra long cords. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/42 "2009-07-19T00:19:53Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yep, I don’t get it. The cell phone sucks compared to a land line. It’s good for calling in an artillery attack at 11999178n and 23124344w. But that is about it. > > You can’t visit on a cell phone. You can give basic info. But you can’t just talk to someone. Well, that’s the downside to living in an area with breathtaking views right outside your window. 😉 Seriously, that has to be it - your location. The reception here makes cell phones just as good for “visiting” as landlines. That was what I meant in my previous post, that _here_ cell phone reception is as good as landlines. Apparently, also where all of my out-of-town relatives live. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/43 "2009-07-19T00:21:16Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > For those keeping landlines solely to maintain a long-used or favored phone number, and who would find cell service more convenient, why not transfer the number over? In a house of five, whom would you forward the calls to? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/44 "2009-07-19T01:04:17Z")
49 here. We maintain a landline (we have a package deal with FIOS for TV/internet/phone for 100 + box rental per month) and probably will somewhat permanently because we have kids, and I want them always to be able to dial out if they need help. Even though they have cell phones now, I don’t trust them not to lose them. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/45 "2009-07-19T01:10:22Z")
I’m 54 and still have a landline at home and at work. I have a cell, but rarely use it. The big sticking point for me is call quality. It is a rare cell phone call that sounds anywhere near as good as one made from a landline–even if you factor in cordless phones, which I use both at home and at work. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/46 "2009-07-19T01:17:55Z")
We have a landline, but only because it comes automatically with any broadband package you can get. I pretty much never use it for calls. My mobile reception has always been just as good as landline, and the call costs are in with the cost of the phone, so there’s never any reason not to use that. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/47 "2009-07-19T01:24:26Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > Well, that’s the downside to living in an area with breathtaking views right outside your window. 😉 > > Seriously, that has to be it - your location. The reception here makes cell phones just as good for “visiting” as landlines. That was what I meant in my previous post, that _here_ cell phone reception is as good as landlines. Apparently, also where all of my out-of-town relatives live. 🙂 All lies. I live smack dab in the middle of northern NJ (maybe 30 miles outside of NYC), and most of my relatives either in or in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Besides, most of said relatives complain when I call them from my cell (and let us not speak of calling their cells with my cell). I’m firmly in the camp of those who won’t drop their landlines until the sound quality is at a comparable level. I honestly think that those who say that their cell sound is as good as a landline have either forgotten what good reception sounds like, or use their cell so much that they’ve mentally blocked out the frequent sound artifacts. 33 years old, and I just switched over to Vonage (VoIP) - their cheap plan. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/48 "2009-07-19T01:54:51Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > I honestly think that those who say that their cell sound is as good as a landline have either forgotten what good reception sounds like, or use their cell so much that they’ve mentally blocked out the frequent sound artifacts. Nope. There’s no difference at all, IME. The only way you can ever tell someone’s calling you from a mobile (well, apart from the phone number) is that you’re more likely to hear street noises and traffic than when someone’s calling from the comfort of home. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/49 "2009-07-19T02:40:04Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Nope. There’s no difference at all, IME. The only way you can ever tell someone’s calling you from a mobile (well, apart from the phone number) is that you’re more likely to hear street noises and traffic than when someone’s calling from the comfort of home. I disagree. Some cell phones do very well and others are just terrible all the time. What amazes me is that it’s not directly related to cost. Beyond individual phone performance there is broadcast noise due to building interference or cell tower coverage. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@Big\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Blue)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/50 "2009-07-19T03:15:33Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I think people are just getting used to shitty service. I agree with this. I had a power outage a few nights ago that lasted about 7 hours . If it were not for my land line I would have been terribly board. I spent most of the power outage sitting in the dark taking to a good friend several states away for hours and hours. My cell would have been well dead and I could not have recharged it. Oh yeah, my land line is actually a corded phone, too. It’s a cheapie but sounds great and I love using it. Granted, sometimes it is weird to be attached to the wall. On the other hand it can be wonderfully relaxing to kick back and have an actual conversation, concentrating only on the conversation, without the need to be doing four other things at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/51 "2009-07-19T03:22:44Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Finally, the home number serves as a “junk” number - I don’t want most businesses having my cell phone number, so I give the home number and we screen all calls. Exactly this. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/52 "2009-07-19T03:35:30Z")
Landline, cell only for emergencies/really expecting a call or text. My friends nag the hell out of me about not keeping it on all the time, but seriously, I’m either at home or at an internet connection. I wish I could set up texting so that I could get and receive from my computer. This would be unremarkable, except I’m 22 and I work in tech. I have also never texted in class. So there, kids, get off my bloody lawn. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/53 "2009-07-19T04:23:08Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Nope. There’s no difference at all, IME. The only way you can ever tell someone’s calling you from a mobile (well, apart from the phone number) is that you’re more likely to hear street noises and traffic than when someone’s calling from the comfort of home. I agree. However I’m not going to kick up a fuss about other folks’ experience. I don’t have any problems with mine, and I’m happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/54 "2009-07-19T04:50:09Z")
I still use a landline. I do not currently own a cell phone. I do have Skype, which I utilize from the computer not from a dedicated telephony device. I use a landline in part because our internet connectivity is DSL and in part because every rare once in a while someone requests that I FAX something to them and a landline is useful for that. ETA: 50 years old ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/55 "2009-07-19T04:54:15Z")
[QUOTE=kushiel] wish I could set up texting so that I could get and receive from my computer [/quote] You can. Most cellphone service providers relay email sent to some formulaically derived email address. AT&T seems to be [0000000000@mobile.mycingular.com](mailto:0000000000@mobile.mycingular.com) with the 0’s replaced by area code and tel number to the cellphone. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/56 "2009-07-19T05:09:52Z")
Still use a landline, and I’m well into my 50s. We have two landlines: One for the phone and one for the Internet. I still don’t carry a cellphone, but the wife does. I don’t think landlines will ever die out completely. Certainly not over here, even though cellphones are everywhere now. ---
**Author:** ![BaconAndEggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/57 "2009-07-19T07:56:53Z")
Are landlines really going to be obsolete in the future, because I don’t think my mother will ever give her’s up? Stupid question…if you don’t have a landline can you still be connected to the internet like if you have a router and modem. Do you keep the phone jack and pay the bill on a non existent number? ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/58 "2009-07-19T08:06:15Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > In a house of five, whom would you forward the calls to? Presumably then, you wouldn’t be one of the people to whom my question was directed-- those who keep their landline _solely_ to maintain a number, and who would prefer to go cell-only. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/59 "2009-07-19T10:38:21Z")
I have a landline because I work from home via a call-centre. It’s a necessary part of my job you might say, even though I have a wireless connection. But for all other personal calls, my cell (mobile) does the job, both for incoming and outgoing communications. In Australia, most internet users rely upon either dial-up or broadband connections which need a landline to operate. So we pay a monthly rental for our phone AND to the internet provider AND for our mobile phones as well. Sucks. ---
**Author:** ![ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417/60 "2009-07-19T13:17:06Z")
32, and we only have a land line because it’s packaged in with our internet (it’s digital though). I have no idea what the number is, and we never answer it when it rings. There’s always been something about landlines that oog me out, but I think I’m just weird. I guess it’s the notion that by answering it, I’m intrinsically broadcasting “yes I am actually in my house right now” and that seems sort of personal to me. Caller ID mitigates it somewhat but I’d still rather use my cell. Maybe something like Google Voice would fix that: having one number that goes where it needs to, and isn’t obvious to the caller what it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-a-landline/503417.md?page=4)