# Tell me about without a land-line Telephone **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440 "2010-11-30T18:47:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/21 "2010-11-30T20:31:54Z")
Who exactly are all these people asking for your phone number, with whom you have no interest in ever speaking? šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/22 "2010-11-30T20:32:53Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > So, people without landlines, what do you do when you have to give a number to someone, but you really donā€™t ever want that person to call you? Iā€™m confused. Why would I give my number to anyone I donā€™t ever want to call me? ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/23 "2010-11-30T20:37:17Z")
Here in Finland landlines are a thing of the past. Only landline number I have on my cellphoneā€™s list is my 90-year old granmaā€™s landline, and even she has a cellphone also. Welcome to the future. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/24 "2010-11-30T20:38:29Z")
I lived in San Diego for 5 years and never had a landline. I never had a problem with just using my cell. Sadly, now I live out in the wilds of Virginia and my cell phone has zero reception, so we were forced to get a landline. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/25 "2010-11-30T20:55:04Z")
Iā€™ve also never had a land line. The only problem Iā€™ve had is when making repeated calls to various companies that put me on hold for long periods. If you do this on a cell phone you can blow your monthly minutes very quickly. This is the only time Iā€™ve had any overage charges on my bare-minimum-minutes cell plan. Plus hold music is even more painful and infuriating over a cellular connection. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/26 "2010-11-30T20:56:01Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Three years without a landline, no prob. Something you might want to know: I donā€™t know how it is in other areas, but in mine you can still call 911 even if youā€™ve had your phone service disconnected. That could save your life some day. Any cell phone can call 911, as long as itā€™s charged. You do not have to have a plan or be a customer. [FCC rules](http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html). ā€“No land line since 1999 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/27 "2010-11-30T20:59:17Z")
Contrary example here. We ditched our land-line for about a year and regretted it big time. Cel phone service still isnā€™t reliable enough to be a viable replacement, and the costs ended up being significantly more. Thereā€™s too much latency, especially when calling another cel phone. Weā€™ve had storms where power went out and there was no cel service, but land lines still worked. But the real deal breaker is that no one can get on an extension. There are too many times that we both need to be involved in a call, or both kids want to talk to grandma at once, or we need to be able to monitor a kidā€™s phone call. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/28 "2010-11-30T20:59:52Z")
I ditched my land line when I ditched DSL. Once I had a cell phone, internet connectivity was pretty much my only use for a land line. I have the cell. Itā€™s no more difficult to give out that number than it was to give out my land number. And I really donā€™t need two different numbers to mess around with. Added bonus ā€¦ fewer (if any) telemarketers. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/29 "2010-11-30T21:18:05Z")
Before you go without a landline you may want to check your state utilities board. Often phone companies are required to offer bare bones service (usually under $20/month). The phone companies donā€™t advertise this, but itā€™s worth looking into if you just want to maintain a line. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/30 "2010-11-30T21:21:16Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Contrary example here. We ditched our land-line for about a year and regretted it big time. Cel phone service still isnā€™t reliable enough to be a viable replacement, and the costs ended up being significantly more. Thereā€™s too much latency, especially when calling another cel phone. Weā€™ve had storms where power went out and there was no cel service, but land lines still worked. > > But the real deal breaker is that no one can get on an extension. There are too many times that we both need to be involved in a call, or both kids want to talk to grandma at once, or we need to be able to monitor a kidā€™s phone call. I just put the cell on speaker for stuff like that. But yeah, if cell service is spotty, it would make sense to keep a landline. I dumped my land line when I moved in May. I kept it for DSL and for answering the door in my old apartment, but once I moved I switched to cable internet and the door buzzer is hard-wired so no land line needed at all. I havenā€™t missed it one bit. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/31 "2010-11-30T21:33:05Z")
No regrets at all - I had to keep the landline for a while because the security system needed to be able to call out, but then I had them install this cell thing for the system and dumped the landline. I canā€™t imagine even thinking of a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/32 "2010-11-30T21:44:36Z")
I donā€™t know anyone my age that has a landline. I donā€™t understand why anyone would ever want one. Whatā€™s the point of having a phone that I canā€™t move around wtih me, wherever I go? Iā€™ve never wanted to call, say, the Smiths or Robinsons. I want to call Mike or Greg! So I call their personal phones. Landlines are like smoking. Just cuz. No good reason, itā€™s just always been that way. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/33 "2010-11-30T22:22:38Z")
Another voice in the ā€œI dumped my landline years ago and havenā€™t looked back since!ā€ chorus. **Doug** makes some good points (though I donā€™t understand the ā€œlatencyā€ comment) but theyā€™re rather specific. If none of them apply to you (got a teenager to monitor? no?) and your local service is good, I canā€™t see why youā€™d keep one. ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/34 "2010-11-30T22:32:08Z")
My suggestion to everyone who ditches landline phones is: program the seven digit emergency line for your local law enforcement agency into your phone. Especially if you live in CA. Cellular 911 calls in CA go to CHP, then are directed (often wrongly) to the agency in charge of whatever youā€™re calling about. If youā€™re not calling about something traffic related, itā€™s definitely best to skip 911 and go directly to your jurisdictional agencyā€™s emergency number. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/35 "2010-11-30T22:36:09Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > We dumped our landline last year and havenā€™t missed it. The only calls we had received on the landline for year or so before that had been telemarketers. The only reason we had kept it so long was because it carried our DSL. Now, we use ā€œnaked DSLā€ from AT&T, which means that DSL is brought to our house on a phone line, but we donā€™t make or receive calls on that line. **BobArrgh** , Do you recall if your transition to ā€œnaked DSLā€ was a smooth one, or did you have to endure multiple service calls to get it working right? I have DSL and landline service from AT&T as well, with really no reason to keep the landline. Internet connection is crucial, however, as I pay all my bills and do other banking online. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/36 "2010-11-30T23:42:11Z")
I havenā€™t had a land line in six years, and I donā€™t miss it at all. Not at all. In fact, life is better without a land line, because you no longer get all those telemarketing calls. Iā€™m a middle-aged woman who lives alone, by the way, so itā€™s not only the young 'uns who have done this. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/37 "2010-12-01T03:07:02Z")
We dropped ours 2 years ago when the last kid moved out. We could have done it sooner, it was more inertia than need that kept us paying for it for the last year. The only downside has come in the last month. I was sick a couple days and also worked from home (wfh) my normal 2 days a month as well. As a result I went way over on minutes (8hrs of meetings x 4 days = eeek!) Iā€™ve made some adjustments to my plan that should help with that since I plan to wfh between Christmas and New Years. Meetings will be much lighter that week hopefully! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/38 "2010-12-01T03:14:51Z")
How often do you really use it? Is there a point to having both? I dropped my landline as soon as I got a cellphone. And I second the bit about no telemarketer calls. For the last few years of my landline, those calls probably outnumbered real calls by better than 2-1, even with being on the do not call list. Goddamned charities. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/39 "2010-12-01T03:58:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Tell me about without a land-line Telephone Life without a land-line telephone can lead to starting OPā€™s with missing words in their titles. Itā€™s why I never start threads these days. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440/40 "2010-12-01T04:43:31Z")
I went solely to a cell phone six years ago after ~10 years with both. The last five years of my landline, the only thing that I used it for was DSL. Any incoming calls tended to be wrong numbers (my landline was one digit off from both a hospital and a Ford dealership) or telemarketers. No great loss. When I moved, I just didnā€™t move that service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-without-a-land-line-telephone/562440.md?page=3)