Cell phones have become the standard for home telephones, but landlines remain viable. Whether you’re considering dropping your landline or want to compare options, this comprehensive guide will help you choose the best option for your needs.
We’ll cover important factors like cost, convenience, call quality, and features like robocall blocking.
Cost
If you’re considering dropping your landline, you’ll have to consider what that will mean in terms of cost. Many home phone alternatives are cheaper than a traditional copper wire landline, but the cost will vary depending on what you choose.
Some of the cheapest options include a MagicJackHOME, an OBi device with Google Voice, or one of the Xfinity Mobile plans (with limited or unlimited data). To keep your current number, you must pick a service to port your old number.
Additionally, if you’re currently getting your landline as part of a bundle with other services like high-speed Internet or cable TV, dropping it to rely on cell phones alone could cost more in the long run. That’s why it’s essential to consider all your options before deciding. The best way to do that is with a free trial of a home phone alternative.
Convenience
If you rely on a landline phone for your home security system, or your health monitoring devices (like pacemakers), it’s worth checking to ensure that switching to cable-free options will not interfere with them. Some companies will defer migrating you to digital services if they know you rely on a device requiring a landline for its functionality.
Copper wire telephone service still works in a power outage, and 911 services can more easily pinpoint the caller’s location when using a landline. These advantages may be significant for those who live in areas with spotty cellular coverage or for people who need peace of mind that their landline will work in the event of a natural disaster.
Internet-based landline alternative like Google Voice, MagicJack, or NetTalk allow you to set up a single number that rings your home phone, cell phone, or both, depending on your preference. It can also be an excellent option for those bundling their cable and internet services with a landline.
Call Quality
One of the main reasons that many people still have landlines is that they’re a reliable means of communication during emergencies. Cell towers may go dark when storms or natural disasters hit, and high-speed internet connections could be disrupted. However, landlines are a much more reliable option for emergencies since they work without electricity and don’t require the Internet to function.
Moreover, landline phones are accessible to disabled and elderly users and can be easily operated with large fonts and a backlight. It makes them the perfect choice for homes with children and seniors.
If you rely on telephone customer service, poor call quality can negatively impact your customer’s experience with your brand. Choppy audio can lead to inefficient communication and frustrated callers, which could be better for your business to build trust with its clients and partners. To improve your call quality, reduce bandwidth saturation by avoiding running automatic backups or uploading important content during the day.
Reliability
Whether or not to keep a landline depends on many factors, including personal and household needs. For example, some people prefer the reliability and peace of mind that comes with a landline that can’t be cut by the power or lost in a storm (or simply out of reach due to living on an upper floor). Others still need access to 911 services or depend on home automation systems like fall detection and home alarms that require active landlines for functionality.
Some also value making or receiving Wi-Fi and cellular network calls from their home phone. In addition, many consumers have come to appreciate that their landline is not susceptible to robocalls and other unwanted calls that often plague mobile phones.
For those who plan to keep a landline, you must check with your telecom provider about switching to digital services. It may be necessary to port your existing landline number over or to choose a service, like MagicJack or NetTalk, that offers this option.
