Why are landlines disappearing?
The traditional landline is already endangered by the rise of mobile devices—fewer people than ever are paying for such a connection in their home. And now the landline is being threatened by the cost of its own infrastructure.
No one can say when the final step will be taken, but most in the industry expect that within about 10 years, the U.S. landline telephone network will no longer exist. Indeed, we are already farther along in the nationwide VoIP transition than you may think.
Landlines will still exist, and you can still have a phone line in your home - but the system that underpins it will be different. The changeover needs to happen by December 2025, as this is when the old technology will stop working.
The end of landline phones doesn't mean the end of the phone call. Landline phones may be declining, but you have choices to make phone calls. As phone providers move more resources into newer technologies like 5G, it may be wise to move away from a traditional phone service.
The sound quality is still better than a cellphone.
Even though you can't top the mobility of a cellphone, landlines still offer the best quality sound and clarity, which can be beneficial to the hearing impaired. This can also be especially helpful for long-distance or international calls.
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'.
Realistically, no, you do not need a landline in most homes; however, there are a few advantages and exceptions to a home phone line.
The Home Phone Isn't Dead
However, the home phone system is getting a facelift. The landline devices are looking sleeker than ever, and they come with affordable packages crafted for the modern consumer. Before you laugh and click away, consider that a home phone: Works during power outages.
Phone call prices plummeted after the breakup of the U.S. telephone monopoly in the 1980s. And the invention of technologies like “voice over IP” – popularized by Skype – pushed prices down even further.
landlines, nearly 95 percent of households had a landline. At the end of 2018, fewer than 40 percent of households reported having a landline, and an overwhelming majority had a cellphone, too.
Who uses a landline anymore?
Almost 60% of people age 45 and older have a landline. Still, that means a lot of us are hanging onto our landline phones. And the older we are, the more likely we are to keep that home phone — almost 60% of people age 45 and older have a landline, according to the same report.
What is the cheapest way to have a landline? The cheapest way to have a landline is to sign up to Community Phone's wireless landline service. Community Phone offers home and business phone plans from as little as $39.00 per month, without the need for copper wires or an internet connection.
You may think traditional landlines are obsolete, but they offer several advantages. In most cases, home phone service still operates if there is a power outage, and you have a backup in case your cell phone breaks or gets lost.
Yes, a standard landline will work without an internet connection. Virtual phone services like VoIP run on an internet connection, but landlines require a separate line.
Mobile Broadband uses a USB dongle, data-only SIM or a Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows you to connect wirelessly to 4G or 5G internet. It's the most popular form of broadband without a fixed landline, and one of the best options if you're looking for something flexible.
Let's start with landline phone service. A research report by the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics estimates that during the first half of 2020, less than 32% of Americans lived in a household with a traditional landline phone. On average, a landline costs $42 per month.
Apparently discontinuation of AT&T landlines was started in 2017, but has hoops to jump through. Unfortunately the cost of maintaining traditional landline while improving internet and wireless options to the point of pure replacement, is not feasible.
If you have a “corded” phone, then yes your landline telephone will work during a power outage. If you have a “cordless” phone, then it will not work, because a cordless phone requires electricity to transfer the signal from the base to the handset.
The Fall of Landlines
A study carried out by the National Centre for Health Statistics revealed a significant drop in landline usage in the U.S. over the past 12 years with more than 54% of households relying solely on mobile phones for communication, as opposed to just 16% in 2006.
Unless you live in a rural area, wireless and cellular technology, like 3G, 4G LTE and the latest 5G network, have eliminated the need for landline phones. And since you don't need a home phone any longer, you don't need those landline jacks around your house, either.
Are analog phones being phased out?
Right now, the FCC is working on the biggest transformation in over a century of profound technological progress in communications: shutting down the analog telephone network. It's an end-game everyone needs to keep a close eye on.
