anyone without plain old telephone?

[kerrybelle]

We've wanted to get rid of our landline for some time now. The problem is DH needs a landline for his work computer. It makes a call each night, to download information from the company. I feel we are throwing that money away.

[SouthernBelle]

I have both for business reasons. As far as the cell, the main reason I have it is for safety reasons. I'm often on the road by myself (both bike and car). On both the cell has been priceless in emergencies.

The funniest was when I had a flat, no spare tube, and my tube wasn't repairable. I called a taxi! We had a hard time fitting the bike in his back seat.

Matter of fact, my old cellphone bit the dust this week; so I've invested in a Palm Treo. Totally cool. I've already got my calendar all set up and syncing with all my computers. Lots more things on it to play with.

[nancielle]

Still have a landline. Cell coverage here is dicey. When using my cell phone at home, many times I have difficulty hearing the person I'm calling or they have difficulty hearing me. My downstairs neighbors use only a cell phone and I get to hear all of their conversations because they're constantly yelling into their phone to be heard.

[bmccasland]

Anyone notice that cell to cell long distance calls have worse reception than cell to landline? Or cell to cell in general is worse?

I use my cell for long distance calls, and when I call someone else long distance on their cell the reception can be dicey, and they're not driving through tunnels either. But if I call their landline, no problems.

One other thing - cell calls can be picked up (listened to) by nepharious persons with the right gear - like picking up radio signals. You can't do that with a landline (and law enforcement needs a warrant to tap the line). Be careful about giving personal information over a cell call.

[Geonz]

Just a cell phone ... but it's a problem because I have a lot of trouble keeping track of it and keeping it charged. Right now I don't know where it is... trying to figure otu a routine for getting it into oh, the fanny pack or something.
I'm out on the bike so much that I don't want to give up the cell phone but I better ride out and see if I left it at work...

[emily_in_nc]

do you need an active land line for DSL?? I thought they just borrowed the telephone line.

meaning no telephone service and still have DSL. Don't tell me it ain't so...???

well that will be a major I'm not about to get cable modem satellite service. Haven't watched a TV program in like two maybe three years and I'm very happy. What I don't know can't hurt me. Ignorance is a bliss

now REALLY CONFUSED!!!
smilingcat

Actually, it might be possible, but cost more for the DSL service without land line service bundled in, so since we aren't paying that much for our land line service, I prefer to keep it up for all the reasons others have mentioned before. Living in a rural area, our power is more likely to go out, and I often forget to charge my cell phone as I am not a big phone user. So I like having my old timey phones for emergencies if nothing else. And having land line service, I am able to have the very cheapest cell phone plan ($39.95/mo) with the fewest minutes.

Emily

[tulip]

I use Skype in addition to my cell phone.

[Trek420]

Actually, it might be possible, but cost more for the DSL service without land line service bundled in

Yes, you can get "naked DSL". In most areas the price is slightly more without a land line than with one. But most DSL providers keep the standalone cost the same for the fastest speed.

If you have DSL with a land line consider a measured rate if your local phone service provider offers that. Most internet users have flat rate for unlimited local calls, that was essential when you used to use dial up dontchaknow and most folks never change that.

But now you have DSL so unless you call your neighbor daily you might not need that. The cost diff (around $6.00 with most local companies) is about the difference between regular and "naked" DSL. Voila! Keep your land line and the advantages some have mentioned like free incoming calls, emergency access .... if you want to.

[DDH]

I keep my land line only for 911 services. I have a 13 yr old and we live on 50 acres in the country with few neighbors around. We all three have AT&T cellular service but until they get gps on cell phones, and the 911 service has that available for finding cells, I prefer to have the land line for emergency service. I have the most basic phone though. I only pay like 20 dollars a month because we use the cells for long distance and the land line is what my MIL and mother call.

[tc1]

Basically, although individual circumstances vary, keeping a land land for your home is the best way to go. Cell networks get overloaded quickly in disasters, emergencies or perceived emergencies. I was working during the Nisqually earthquake, and the cell phone system was overloaded, our 800mHz radio crashed because the repeater site lost power, so "Bell" phones were our only option and they worked. Also, depending on your area, the address identification feature at the 911 dispatch center doesn't work with cell phones.

Yeah, the wires are still on poles, and poles still get taken out by storms, drunks, etc. But overall the "Bell" system has proven to be more reliable. Make sure to have at least one phone that doesn't depend on AC to make it work. Most cordless have two cords, a little one that plugs into the phone receptacle, and a bigger cord with a transformer that plugs into your house's AC power. If the power goes out, the phone won't work. One of my phones is marketed as being easy for older people to use-the buttons are large and lit, the ring is adjustable to ear-splitting, and it can amplify voices. It does use house AC for the bells and whistles, but if the AC is out it still works as a phone without the fancy features.

O' course, my perspective is shaped by my memories of growing up in the sticks in isolation, with one phone on a party line. I am quite phobic about being left without the option to contact somebody. So I have a personal cell phone, a company cell phone, a company pager, and a bell phone at home. Boyfriend has a personal cell phone and a company cell phone. And we have a cable modem. We both spend very little time on the phone, but we want the choice.

[Lizasilva]

Yep, I'm the same kind of a person who is a little anxious when it comes to contacting others on phones or so! Usually, I don't make calls on cell phone or bell phones, but when alone in home, I usually make calls like manics...so as to reduce my anxiety and to develop a fluf of confidence that I'm not alone and others are with me. It scares me to even imagine that I'ld be helpless in case of an emergency, so I own a cell phone with two SIMs, and 2 bell phones at home, and I was wondering last Sunday that how about if I buy a new cell phone in case I lost my previous one, I'ld ve another ...