# Landline phone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104 "2011-06-20T02:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/41 "2011-06-20T17:14:20Z")
We haven’t had a landline since we moved to San Antonio back in 2009. My wife was worried at first, but there’s been no negative repercussions that I can think of. We’re in our early 40s. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/42 "2011-06-20T17:18:44Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > … but if you are a homeowner then I would expect you to have a landline. What is more I suspect credit agencies would mark you down for not. > . Why? I own a home and don’t have a landline - why would I need one? And any credit agency that marks me down for not having a landline… I don’t get that reasoning either. One would think my high net worth, low liabilities, and decades-long history of paying shit on time would count for more. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/43 "2011-06-20T17:24:51Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > Because land lines are better quality sound, more comfortable to hold, are cheaper to most “special” numbers and cheaper to phone international numbers to and from. The only one of those I’d agree with completely is the cheaper calls to “special” numbers, but most of the time Google will turn up an alternative number that’s covered by the price plan. I much prefer holding a lightweight mobile to a large and heavy (relatively) landline handset, although they may well have changed in the years since I’ve used one. I also don’t get the sound quality thing - the speakers are much higher quality than landlines, but then pretty much everywhere I go I have good signal. I don’t think I’ve ever made an international call, so I’ve no idea of the relative costs. I have seen price plans with what look like pretty cheap calls though, but to be honest if I needed to call internationally I’d look at VOIP before any phone. Just to make it clear, this is my experience, and I realise others will be different. I’m actually interested to know if I am missing anything by not having a landline, although I doubt I’d be able to reduce my mobile bill by enough to save money by getting one. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/44 "2011-06-20T18:39:20Z")
I got rid of my landline years ago. I also have a Google voice and a Skype account. I find I use my Google voice number when I’m near my computer and that some of friends call my Google number first because they say the sound quality is better. I set my Google account to ring both my computer and cellphone, so my friends don’t have to redial if I am away from my computer now. I also like that voice messages go into my gmail account. I was lucky I got my Google number early when they had numbers available in my local area code. I also use Google voice for overseas calls, since their rates are cheaper than Skype. I had a friend who tried to cancel her landline and ended getting her lineline, TV and internet from AT&T. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/45 "2011-06-20T18:52:07Z")
Still have a landline (I’m 46). Cell phone service in our neighborhood is spotty, though AT&T recently gave me a mini-cell – a little cell tower, about the size of a wireless router, which attaches to my internet router, and gives us fairly good reception in the house now. I also still have two hard-wired phones on the landline (both are over 20 years old). I figure I’ll keep them just in case of power outages (not uncommon in our area). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/46 "2011-06-20T18:55:53Z")
50 years old, divorced my landline in 2004 (along with my ex), bought a cell and never looked back. Never text or send photos or talk while driving, so I still count as part-Amish. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/47 "2011-06-20T19:54:12Z")
Got rid of it last year when the telco finally finished their 3G network. Don’t regret it a bit. It’s actually cheaper than a landline for me. My plan allows me unlimited calls to 5 numbers, including long distance, and I don’t talk to anyone on the phone except family so it works. As long as I don’t go up to the northern mining camps reception is awesome (oh hai there crown corp). ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/48 "2011-06-20T20:20:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quoth **aceplace57** : > > Back to the OP, I got a cell phone precisely because I wanted to get rid of my landline, since I was sick and tired of what passed for customer service with Qwest. Once I did so, though, I wondered why I hadn’t earlier: Cell phone service with a lot of features (caller ID, call waiting, etc.) cost less than the bare-bones basic landline package, and that’s before even adding in long distance, plus of course there’s the obvious convenience of carrying it around with me. what you said ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/49 "2011-06-20T20:22:00Z")
I am thirty and absolutely hate talking on a cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/50 "2011-06-20T20:34:45Z")
2 cell, 1 land line household. Why don’t we drop the land line? 1. Land line quality is much better than cell. 2. I really hate being on a cell phone leash. I carry it, but I don’t want to be at it’s beck and call, so it’s usually set to ring so low that I don’t hear it. Basically, if I’m not at home, there is a good chance I’m doing something, and I don’t want to answer or even hear the phone. Leave me a message at home 3. 911 access - My increasingly frail parents live with us part time. Land line means 911 can tell where the phone call is coming from, even if the caller can’t talk. 4. A phone number I can give out to anyone. There is no way I’m giving my cell number to everyone that requires a phone number. I don’t want the newpaper calling me while I’m at work, to try to get me to subscribe. They all get the home phone number, where they can leave a voice mail. 5. Of all the utilities I pay, basic no-long-distance is the cheapest one I have. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/51 "2011-06-20T21:06:42Z")
We still have one. While I feel plenty old most days, I don’t think I quite qualify as “elderly” :). I like the idea of having a phone always available in the house. With my kids especially, there’s too much risk that they’d misplace the phone and then where would we be (especially if there were an emergency). So, the other target for people who _need_ landlines are folks with children. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/52 "2011-06-20T21:08:51Z")
Land lines are still the only internet service for many places. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/53 "2011-06-20T21:09:51Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > My mum insists I have one, in case there’s a power outage. However, I try explaining to her that I have a cordless handset, and even the kitchen phone wouldn’t work in my apartment, because I have VOIP landline. > > But it’s just easier than arguing with her, frankly… UPS for the phone box. For someone with a non-VOIP line: this is why it’s suggested that you have at least one wired phone in the house. Actually, we now have FIOS - and the box just inside the house has a battery backup (so the phone still works if the power glitches). I should find out how often that needs to be changed. We’re fortunate that power outages are fairly rare where we live, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/54 "2011-06-20T21:14:33Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > What is more I suspect credit agencies would mark you down for not. > . How would a credit agency even know if you do or don’t have one? I know, looking at my credit reports, they all have my cell phone number listed. Any time I’ve had someone so much as begin to raise an eyebrow, I quickly just tell them “Oh, I mean that’s my home phone” and they just enter my cell phone as my home phone and move on to the next question. IME anyone who questions why you don’t have a land line, won’t question why you don’t want to give out your cell phone number (or why you ‘don’t’ have one). On forms that you fill out yourself, that require a home number, I just enter my cell phone number in both spots. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/55 "2011-06-21T01:21:50Z")
I think I qualify as elderly (starting Medicare in three months…ack!) and have no land line. When we moved to Austin we didn’t get one and have not missed it. And as far as being “tied” to my cell, well, I can ignore its ringing just as easily (or turn it off) as I could a house phone. I do wish it was easier to tuck up against my shoulder while talking so as to continue knitting with 2 hands, but then I don’t spend as much time on the phone as I did when I was younger. (More time typing these days.) We roll over our minutes and will never run out I don’t think. So why pay another bill? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/56 "2011-06-21T02:54:18Z")
Don’t have a cell, still use a land line, hubby has a cell. I’m not especially attached to it, I could go either way. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/57 "2011-06-21T06:59:30Z")
I have a landline phone. With a dial. But it has an extra long cord, so I can walk all over the kitchen & dining room while talking on it. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/58 "2011-06-21T12:44:09Z")
What’s a “cord”? ---
**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:** [June 21, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/59 "2011-06-21T17:02:16Z")
1. I have a cell phone and a landline. I’ve had the landline since I was 13 (took forever to convince my mom that my BBS habits necessitated getting my own line), and it has a really easy-to-remember number (enough so that when I write it down, I’m often accused of giving a fake number). Four corded Trimline phones through the apartment, and the bedroom phone has an extra-long cord such that I can stay on it while going anywhere else in the place. I really just prefer talking on the landline. The phone’s more comfortable, don’t have to worry about reception issues, sound quality is far better, no lag in reception, full duplex. It’s worth the $9 or so I pay per month to keep it (after all fees and such). I’m not sure how number portability works now in the landline realm, so I think I’ll get the number transferred to my current cell phone if/when I leave the area to do grad school. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104/60 "2011-06-21T17:34:38Z")
I’m 34, and have both a landline and a cell. I carry my cell with me, but rarely use it. I don’t care for the call quality. My landline is VOIP from Comcast, but it’s still markedly better quality than my cell. Therefore, I use it whenever possible to place calls. However, it must be said, I don’t place that many calls either - mainly to family. My friends and I communicate either face-to-face at gatherings, through email, or through texts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landline-phone/586104.md?page=4)