iPhone

[Jolt]

I don't have a smartphone yet...maybe when it's time to upgrade. I can see where some of the stuff would be nice to have, but the flip side of this technology is that it creates such an expectation for people to be connected ALL the time and I don't think that's healthy. There need to be some boundaries b/c we all need our space, some more than others. Yes, it's convenient to be able to contact someone anywhere, but it can easily turn into an electronic leash (as can regular cell phones for that matter, but my family and friends know there are certain times I may not answer like when on a hike or while driving) and that's just not cool. My dad has one for work and he's found that people expect him to check his email more...because he can do it anywhere. That's the kind of situation I really don't want to find myself in. As for the land line, I don't have one--makes no sense to pay two phone bills when I am working at paying off my student loans and on track to do it in five years.

ETA: As far as cell phones/911, I've had to do it a couple of times and never had a problem. Granted, it wasn't from the house and maybe that's different, but if anything that would be less likely to be an issue.

[BikeDutchess]

Crankin, that is an interesting observation that I hadn't thought about yet. The "family phone" phenomenon will probably mostly disappear with our kids' generation.

[Irulan]

For landlines I think it comes down to some other factors, too.
One is if you have to have a fax. (yes, some people still use those) We need a fax for our home office.
The other thing is, we get really crappy cell reception at our house. I have to run out on the deck to answer a call or it goes straight to voice mail.

The whole "always connected" argument? No one forces it on you. These things do have an off or silent button. They are not attached by a permanent leash to your body. We have a simple agreement at our house. No phones at meals, period, land or cell.No cell phones at a table, ever. We went out to dinner at a super nice $$ place we like. There was a couple at another table, that both were diddling with their phones the whole time. They want to live like that fine, I think I left mine in the car.

[Irulan]

ETA: As far as cell phones/911, I've had to do it a couple of times and never had a problem. Granted, it wasn't from the house and maybe that's different, but if anything that would be less likely to be an issue.

It used to be that 911 dispatch wasn't set up for geolocating off cell phone data, but they can do that now.

[badger]

I'm debating if I should keep my landline. I think the only thing I would need it for would be is to call my mother in Japan, but I can probably circumvent that by using a calling card. I've had my phone number for about 20 years now so I'm kind of attached to it, too, but that's a silly reason to hang onto a $40 monthly fee.

[OakLeaf]

I think number portability extends to former landline numbers now. It would be worth looking into, anyway.

[Irulan]

I'm debating if I should keep my landline. I think the only thing I would need it for would be is to call my mother in Japan, but I can probably circumvent that by using a calling card. I've had my phone number for about 20 years now so I'm kind of attached to it, too, but that's a silly reason to hang onto a $40 monthly fee.

You don't use Skype? My sister and her son travel extensively, and that is all they ever use for international calls. It is either free or a very minimal cost.

[Blueberry]

We have multiple voip lines - a business and business fax and a home line. No "regular land line." The voip providers have you identify the location of the home with them, and they supposedly let 911 know that. Thankfully, I haven't needed to test that technology.

[Irulan]

We have multiple voip lines - a business and business fax and a home line. No "regular land line." The voip providers have you identify the location of the home with them, and they supposedly let 911 know that. Thankfully, I haven't needed to test that technology.

I need to look into the cost of VOIP for our fax and bus. line.

[smilingcat]

Hi Oak,

You might want to check into "naked DSL". Check with your internet service provider. Naked DSL is you still have the telephone line. You have DSL service but no telephone service.

Where I live now, the only telephone service is from COMCAST and they have locked out all other DSL service. We are all too aware of COMCAST and decided not to do any business with them.

We use 4G wireless for our internet connection through Clearwire Communication and as a back up I have a 3G wireless back up through Virgin Mobile. The backup service is pay as you go by month. So most of the time its inactive with no bills to pay. I only pay $40 for one month use when I need it. Last time it was active was about 5 month ago.

All telephone calls are made with Ooma VoIP. Their basic plan is free. You just have to pay about $180.00 for their equipment. You can buy it at Costco. No real complaints. all my long distance call is free. All my local call is free. no monthly charge for the telephone.

For us we only pay for clear wire's monthly 4G service around $40/mo. and oh my ISP Earthlink. I guess I could give up earthlink and just use my google account or Yahoo account.

Hope this helps.

[smilingcat]

I tell people like my insurance agent and my CPA to scan the document and send it in e-mail rather than FAX. My real-estate management agent uses e-mail.

Just be aware some may send the file in MS format and you will need to upload a special program to read it. It's on my regular computer so can't remember its name off hand. I think it was winmail????

FAX I hope would die soon. Its more of a hassle. Not happy over 3G or 4G connection. For that matter, not happy over internet connection.

[badger]

I forgot about VOIP. I can't skype my mother because she doesn't have internet connection in her home. But I can make calls to landlines from Skype. I used Skype daily to talk to my ex so I'm just so skyped out and really wanting to avoid it but I suppose for the sake of saving money I can make amends again. And on my iPhone I can have a skype app and I'm sure I can make calls through it!

[Blueberry]

Fax won't die until the rules of court allow attorneys to serve documents on each other via email.

I've encountered a surprising number of people who don't email, but who do fax. I thought most people had moved into the "digital age"

[OakLeaf]

ETA: As far as cell phones/911, I've had to do it a couple of times and never had a problem. Granted, it wasn't from the house and maybe that's different, but if anything that would be less likely to be an issue.

I witnessed a car accident a couple of years ago and called 911. Thankfully the person was fine, but I didn't know that when I placed the call. I must've gone through at least five minutes of dispatchers giving me grief because 911 had connected me to the wrong jurisdiction for the location I happened to be in. I wasn't home and had no idea where the county and township and municipal boundaries might be or what agency I "should" have called.


But it's true - when you're home, the only time it might be an issue is when there's no one capable of telling the dispatcher your physical location. That's a real possibility, but it's also a small subset of 911 calls.

[GLC1968]

I witnessed a car accident a couple of years ago and called 911. Thankfully the person was fine, but I didn't know that when I placed the call. I must've gone through at least five minutes of dispatchers giving me grief because 911 had connected me to the wrong jurisdiction for the location I happened to be in. I wasn't home and had no idea where the county and township and municipal boundaries might be or what agency I "should" have called.


But it's true - when you're home, the only time it might be an issue is when there's no one capable of telling the dispatcher your physical location. That's a real possibility, but it's also a small subset of 911 calls.

And the flip side of that is if no one had cell phones, how long would it have taken for someone to call 911 in that situation?