Do you ever feel like you’re the only person who still has a landline? Many people consider ditching their main lines because they think they don’t need them anymore. Most of us carry a cell phone now, so you may question why you still need a designated house phone. Before making any decisions, here are some of the pros and cons of getting rid of your landline you may want to consider.
Pro: You Can Save Money
Do you know how much you pay for your landline phone each month? Basic services may only cost $10 to $30 a month, but additional things like voicemail and caller ID increase those costs. With that, one potential advantage of getting rid of your landline is saving some cash each month.
Con: You May Lose Money
This may sound paradoxical, but it’s also possible that getting rid of your landline may cost you more money in the long run. If you bundle your landline phone service with your cable or internet, your provider may offer a special discount for each service. Trying to cancel phone services with your provider can be a hassle, and removing your phone line may change your policy plan and stick you with a surprisingly more expensive bill.
Pro: Fewer Spam Calls
When looking at the pros and cons of getting rid of your landline, many people report spam or robocalls as one of the main reasons to consider ditching it. While a landline is great for making outgoing calls, many people notice that most, if not all, of their incoming calls are from telemarketers or robocalls. No one wants to rush to a ringing phone in the living room only for it to be someone asking about their vehicle’s extended warranty. By eliminating your landline, you also drop all of those calls.
Con: Worse Sound Quality
Some people may not notice this, but landlines tend to have better sound quality than mobile phones. The direct connection helps create a clearer line, and you won’t need to ask if the person on the other line is still there or if they can hear you now. Many businesses maintain landline phones purely for the superior sound quality.
If you want to increase the sound quality of your mobile phone, a cell phone signal repeater for your home may do the trick. With this device, you can easily improve the signal quality in your home and experience fewer dropped calls. To learn more about the products and services we offer at SureCall Boosters, contact us anytime at Sales@SureCallBoosters.ca.
FAQs
You won't have to pay more than you do right now though. The big concern is that you'll no longer be able to make a call if there's a power cut. Similarly if your internet goes down there won't be a line to use. Even people who use a mobile phone more and more have liked the security of a landline as back up.
Is there a downside to not having a landline? ›
You won't have to pay more than you do right now though. The big concern is that you'll no longer be able to make a call if there's a power cut. Similarly if your internet goes down there won't be a line to use. Even people who use a mobile phone more and more have liked the security of a landline as back up.
Is it worth keeping a landline phone? ›
They also don't have the drawbacks of cellular networks, like dropped calls, poor and distorted quality or weak reception. A key reason people keep landlines around is that they tend to work even during power outages, which is a big plus for folks whose work involves emergency services, business or health care.
Do I need a landline phone anymore? ›
Technically you don't need a landline to have broadband, but packages that require you to have or get one do tend to be the cheapest. So it could still be worth getting a landline connection, even if you don't intend to use it.
What percentage of people no longer use a landline phone? ›
According to the most recent estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 73 percent of American adults in 2022 lived in households where there were only wireless phones and no landlines, while another 25 percent were in households with both. Barely over 1 percent had only landlines.
Why should I get rid of my landline? ›
When looking at the pros and cons of getting rid of your landline, many people report spam or robocalls as one of the main reasons to consider ditching it. While a landline is great for making outgoing calls, many people notice that most, if not all, of their incoming calls are from telemarketers or robocalls.
How much will I save if I cancel my landline? ›
If you stop your landline then your broadband will also be ceased and would be treated as a contract termination, and could involve cancellation charges. The cost of the landline connection is included in the broadband cost, so there would not be any saving.
Why are people going back to landlines? ›
The copper lines used for traditional landlines carry electricity over the wires, so as long as a phone is corded or charged it will work during a power outage. Landlines are separate from cellular and broadband networks and are not affected by their outages, making them a necessary backstop in rural areas.
What year will landlines be phased out? ›
Pierce projects there will only be about 5% of landlines remaining by 2030. But to remove all of them, she said, it “could take even longer – decades.” About 100 million landlines between business and residential are currently active in the US, she said.
Should seniors have a landline? ›
The Importance of Landline Service for Seniors
For elderly people, traditional landline phone service is unbeatable for maintaining communication. Unlike mobile phones or VoIP services, landlines have superior call quality and a reliable connection. Making them perfect for long-distance talking and emergencies.
When landlines are phased out in 2025, digital voice services such as VoIP will take over. A VoIP service can be run over an internet connection, so it does not need a physical landline.
Can I cancel my landline and still have internet? ›
Can I cancel my landline and still have internet? Yes, you certainly can, but you will need to have switched to a full fibre internet service provider. Cancelling your landline rental is different from deciding not to have a landline handset plugged in at your home.
Why do I need a landline if I have a mobile? ›
If you only use your phone to make phone calls, a landline might be your best option. Features. Landlines offer a lot of cool features you may not know about, including Caller ID on TV, VIP Ring, Block Anonymous Calls and readable voicemail. No dropped calls.
Who still uses a landline? ›
Only 2 percent of U.S. adults use only landlines. Another 3 percent mostly rely on landlines and 1 percent don't have phones at all. The largest group of holdouts, of course, are folks 65 and older. That's the only demographic for which households with landlines still outnumber wireless-only households.
Are landline phones making a comeback? ›
According to Axios, the landline phone is becoming popular again, especially with Gen Z. It's the latest cool trend with those who are ages 11 to mid 20's. Kinda odd, but we all know that anything 'retro' is popular.
What will replace landline phones? ›
This means that in the future, landline calls will be delivered over digital technology, called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). You might also see this referred to as 'digital phone' or 'digital voice'.
Does a landline affect WiFi? ›
DECT radios operate on 1.9 GHZ. Wifi operates in the 2.4 and 5GHz frequency bands. So correctly operating DECT and Wifi equipment will not interfere with each other. Can you connect a landline to WiFi?
Why are cell phones better than landlines? ›
One of the most important differences between landlines and cell phones is how they function during emergencies. A cell phone will be useful during emergencies that arise when you're away from home, such as a car accident.
How do I get rid of my landline but keep the number? ›
You can simply move or “port” out your number to a new provider or carrier. This means, you can get rid of your landline but keep your number by switching to it a new provider, such as your mobile service.
