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Cellular Phone Forum / Providers / Verizon / March 2004Cell instead of regular phone line?
Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance of about $3-5 a month from AT&T. I make very little calls (I do lots of emailing) and have a cable modem for my internet service. I'd say I make about 2-3 local calls a month for a total of maybe 15 minutes and about 15 minutes worth of in-state long distance a month. Occasionally make a 1-800 call for something like tech support or something like that for 5-20 minutes. I'm wondering if it would be almost cheaper to ditch the regular phone line at my place and just go cellular. Or would that be about the same cost? It'd of course be a little more convienient and good for emergencies in the car, but am I missing some detail like it would cost a lot more using so little minutes or that I'm required to have some kind of regular phone line? I suppose the big disadvantage would be the 1-800 time spent on the phone, free vs. paying on the cell, right? US Cellular or Verizon would be the main Cell phone places in this area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this route before. 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then in Landlines so, if you have kids or Senior Citizens, it's a good idea to keep a cheap as you can get landline in the house. 2. If you have night and weekends and can call toll free numbers during your free N&W, then it's not much of an issue. 3. If you depend on the Internet for your work and need to have a dial backup in case the broadband connection goes down, then I would also consider keeping a landline around. I use my Cellphone for all of my voicecalling but keep a $9 a month measured rate landland around for emergencies, backup, etc. Scotty > Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this > route before. > 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then in > Landlines Many modern cellphones include gps for 911 calls, so I don't think this is a real issue anymore. > 3. If you depend on the Internet for your work and need to have a dial > backup in case the broadband connection goes down, then I would also > consider keeping a landline around. Cell phones are perfectly capable of acting as modems. So unless the OP's cable-modem service is prone to interruptions, I don't think he needs to be concerned about this at all. Cable internet service is really very very reliable nowadays - afaik mine has had zero outages in the last 2 years, and even before that, when it did go out a handful of times, it was never out for more than an hour. > 2. If you have night and weekends and can call toll free numbers during your > free N&W, then it's not much of an issue. Given the OP's usage patterns, he's wouldn't come close to using up his allocated peak minutes even with the cheapest AC plan (300 minutes) -- no need to defer the toll-free calls to off-peak hours. The total cost per month would be about the same as what he's paying now, but for this same cost he'd have unlimited nights-and-weekends long distance and of course all the portability advantages of a cell, as well as caller-id, voicemail, missed-call logging, electronic phonebook, text-messaging, etc. Seems like a win to me. > > 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then in > > Landlines > > Many modern cellphones include gps for 911 calls, so I don't think > this is a real issue anymore. The issue isn't with the phones- its with the Emergency Service Providers. Not all areas have upgraded with E911 technology. You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL he'll still be able to dial 911 Larry > > > 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then > in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > The issue isn't with the phones- its with the Emergency Service Providers. > Not all areas have upgraded with E911 technology. In Wash DC, they physically disconnect you so, that would be problematic. :-) Scotty > You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 > whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > The issue isn't with the phones- its with the Emergency Service Providers. > > Not all areas have upgraded with E911 technology. >You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 >whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL >he'll still be able to dial 911 >Larry Yes but the 911 operations center won't know who or where he is because the deactivated landline has no tel# associated with it and a result of that is the oc computer can't identify the caller and display name and address. Also there is no guarantee that a deactivated landline will still have dialtone on it. If you live in an area where telco facilities are tight it's a good bet your deactivated line will be 'dead' so that some other subscriber can use your facilities for their service. Jim <snip >You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 >whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL >he'll still be able to dial 911 That is not the case everywhere. >Larry >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> The issue isn't with the phones- its with the Emergency Service Providers. >> Not all areas have upgraded with E911 technology. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply >>You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 >>whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL >>he'll still be able to dial 911 > > That is not the case everywhere. Isn't that an FCC rule?  SignatureJustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, Apple Valley, CA PGP: 0xE3AE35ED Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net Domain Names, $9.95/yr, 24x7 service: http://DomainNames.JustThe.net/ "someone once called me a sofa, but i didn't feel compelled to rush out and buy slip covers." -adam brower * Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows 98/2000/2003 > >>You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 > >>whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Isn't that an FCC rule? From http://tinyurl.com/2xn35: - The industry needs more diligent oversight. The FCC has the industry on an honor - system. The agency does no testing to monitor compliance with its 911 rule, says - Steven Dayhoff, an electronics engineer at the FCC labs. Of wireless companies and - 911, he says, "We assume that they have the software or firmware for call-handling - that they're supposed to have." He noted, however, "We have not tried it out." Larry >>>You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 >>>whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Isn't that an FCC rule? For *wireless* it's a rule. It's not a rule for wireline phones. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply >>>You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 >>>whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Isn't that an FCC rule? It's an FCC rule that deactivated *mobile* phones (cellular,PCS,iDen) be able to connect to 911. There is no such regulation for landlines. Some landline companies leave deactivated lines physically connected to the switch so that 911 and 611 (to establish new service) will work, but that is certainly not universal. I would say that in most places, you end up with a dead pair of wires. >>>>You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to >>>>dial 911 whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > work, but that is certainly not universal. I would say that in most > places, you end up with a dead pair of wires. I know that around here (Cincinnati), landline phones are left connected for a while (a couple of months) so that service can be quickly reestablished. During this time 611 and 911 are the only numbers that work. After a couple of months, the line may be physically disconnected. I'm not sure, but I think this is a state or even local regulation and I'm not even sure they still exist. I remember that in New York, a line that was out of service was still required to be physically connected and configured to either automically dial 911 (or the local emergency dept) or allow the dialing of those numbers....I also know that in many states, a line that has been disconnected for non-payment or other reasons must still allow 911 calls to go through. However, I've never seen any FCC regulation that requires it and as another has said, I've been in juristictions where the line is physically "cut" or disconnected at the CO such that there's no line power or dial tone so that any call is impossible.... This is from memory, IANAL and I don't have any specific regulations to refer to that would give a definitive answer. Cheers, Jake > You may not be aware that even a deactivated phone must be able to dial 911 > whether it's a mobil or a landline. It's a law. So even if he ditches the LL [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > The issue isn't with the phones- its with the Emergency Service Providers. > > Not all areas have upgraded with E911 technology. >> 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then in >> Landlines > > Many modern cellphones include gps for 911 calls, so I don't think > this is a real issue anymore. This *only* works if the 911 call centers are gps enabled. SignatureJustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, Apple Valley, CA PGP: 0xE3AE35ED Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net Domain Names, $9.95/yr, 24x7 service: http://DomainNames.JustThe.net/ "someone once called me a sofa, but i didn't feel compelled to rush out and buy slip covers." -adam brower * Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows 98/2000/2003 > This *only* works if the 911 call centers are gps enabled. Two people have now made a point of this. One would have been sufficient. In any case, I stand corrected, maybe the OP lives in a place where 911 doesn't handle gps yet. Or maybe not. Who knows? Not me, not Steven J Sobol. Either way, since this little bit about gps was in both responses extracted out of the rest of my post, I'll assume everything else stands as is. Given which, the conclusion also stands as is. But, hey, now we all know that some 911 centers are more sophisticated than others. And that's the important thing. I guess. >> This *only* works if the 911 call centers are gps enabled. > >Two people have now made a point of this. One would have been >sufficient. There is no central server for Usenet groups (unlike forums hosted on some Website), so it is entirely possible that the two responders had not seen the other's reply when they sent theirs. It all depends on how the messages have propagated around the Internet and when they get to the particular NNTP (Usenet) server used by the responders. > In any case, I stand corrected, maybe the OP lives in a >place where 911 doesn't handle gps yet. Or maybe not. Who knows? Not >me, not Steven J Sobol. It's not just the 911 centers. VZW has to put equipment in each cell site to handle the Assisted-GPS protocol which VZW has chosen. The aGPS functionality in phones depends on equipment in the cell site to work. They are not standalone GPS units. The tradeoff with aGPS is that they will work where standalone units won't, like indoors. Even if you read all the replies listed before making your reply, there may be more replies on the server since your last download. Should you redownload before making a reply there still may be more replies showing up on the server while you are composing yours. >>This *only* works if the 911 call centers are gps enabled. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > hey, now we all know that some 911 centers are more sophisticated than > others. And that's the important thing. I guess. It's still an issue. > > 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then in > > Landlines [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > as well as caller-id, voicemail, missed-call logging, electronic > phonebook, text-messaging, etc. Seems like a win to me. Thanks to everyone for the replies. A little more info on my situation that some people were over-analyzing: Just me, no kids or seniors, so 911 isn't a real big issue, at least I hope it never becomes one. The internet is mostly recreation from home. The cable modem has been down for a total of 4 hours over the 8 months I've had it, so I don't envision ever having to connect via a modem to the internet if it was down for a little while. I've never had to receive or send a fax in my life from home. Next question concerns long distance and roaming. I'm a little confused on the differences between roaming and when some of these plans say "long distance charges may apply" (sorry for being a little naive on this): (this assumes I haven't used up my minutes, which if I get 300-400 from the smallest plan, I'd never come close to using in a month). -If I call from my home, Madison, WI to say...Milwaukee, a city in my service coverage area but would normally be a long distance call from a landline, is that no additional charge assuming I still have minutes? Or is there a long distance charge? What about... -If I'm in Milwaukee and call to Madison? -If I'm in Milwaukee and call Milwaukee? -If I'm in New York City and call Madison, is there any additional charge other than the roaming charge per minute? -If I'm in New York City and call Miami? > 1. 911 calls are harder to locate callers position in Cell Phones then in > Landlines so, if you have kids or Senior Citizens, it's a good idea to keep [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this > > route before. >Next question concerns long distance and roaming. I'm a little >confused on the differences between roaming and when some of these >plans say "long distance charges may apply" (sorry for being a little >naive on this): It all depends on what kind of plan you have. If you have a plan that includes long distance and roaming you're covered. >-If I call from my home, Madison, WI to say...Milwaukee, a city in my >service coverage area but would normally be a long distance call from >a landline, is that no additional charge assuming I still have >minutes? Or is there a long distance charge? Same deal. If your plan includes long distance and roaming you're covered. If you don't have a national plan you're not. >What about... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >-If I'm in New York City and call Miami? Plan, plan plan! Some plans include long distance and roaming while other plans don't. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply hi i keep a landline for my DSL, but i use my cellphone for my regular phone. why? - its about the same cost with the amount of calling i do - im tied to my phone for my business and people can find me anytime anywhere - i only have 1 number for people to get ahold of me - i like the features of a cell phone better (one voice mail, separate rings for different people, voice recognition, etc) it just makes things more convenient. any dollar difference is negligible and greatly outweighed by the conveniences cited above. rbh martin >I'm wondering if it would be almost cheaper to ditch the regular phone >line at my place and just go cellular. Or would that be about the >same cost? Cheaper ? Depends on the cell plan you select. About four months ago I did just what you are pondering. I live alone and had a cell phone and landline. I have the Verizon Wireless AC 400 plan and never even come close to using all my minutes. I did not want to give up my long term landline phone number though. So when number portability came into law last November I signed up to switch my landline number to my cell phone. It took the two Verizon's almost seven weeks to make the number port. Then almost two months longer for them to straighten out the details, but I now have my old landline number on my cell phone. I am saving money because I eliminated the landline. The cell phone does cost about $10.00 a month more than the landline did though. Few things to think about... - Residential security systems normally require a land line. - Backup internet access via land line (or primary access). - Fax in/out. - Important point about the possibility of being on hold on a 1-800 number for an hour or so. - No "dead areas" inside your house with a land line. > Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this > route before. > Few things to think about... > > - Residential security systems normally require a land line. > - Backup internet access via land line (or primary access). > - Fax in/out. I just tested dial-up through cell phone (it works ... so you can use cell phone as dial-up backup). The same with sending and receiving faxes AP > > Few things to think about... > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I just tested dial-up through cell phone (it works ... so you can use > cell phone as dial-up backup). The same with sending and receiving faxes And, unless you have a "data" account, good luck trying to send and receive faxes of any significant size. (Big bucks!!!) Larry >And, unless you have a "data" account, good luck trying to send and receive >faxes of any significant size. (Big bucks!!!) And be realistic. Unless you are a business how many times a year will you need to send a fax? If you just need to receive a fax you can still get free efax numbers. Long distance is so cheap it doesn't matter if the number is local to you or not. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > >And, unless you have a "data" account, good luck trying to send and receive > >faxes of any significant size. (Big bucks!!!) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > can still get free efax numbers. Long distance is so cheap it doesn't > matter if the number is local to you or not. Without getting into a pissing match, I know plenty of individuals who use their fax machines quite a bit. It's just something else to consider. Larry >Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay >almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this >route before. At the end of May I will have gone two years without a wireline phone. If you are a single person this will work out well for you. If you share an apartment or house with several people it wouldn't necessarily be such a good idea. I use a Cellsocket which I plug regular phones into and just put the cell phone in the charging cradle when I come home and for all intents and purposes my phone is the same as it always was except I have to end all calls made on a regular phone with a #. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply I use VZW as my primary phone with no problems. I live in NJ. > >Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > >almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply My gf lives in DE and uses hers as a primary phone. She gets great coverage thru-out her entire house. She has been doing this for over 4 years. No complaints, she is on the 500 ac plan with unlimited in network and unlimited nights and weekends. As far as a landline, i keep mine basic. I also chose verizon as my long distance carrier and i called and had them add the e-values plan. they wont tell you about it when you call for your landline. But it is no fee, (none of that 3.95 a month to keep a certain rate charge) and it is a straight .10 mon-fri then weekends are .05 out of state. anything long distance i use the cell. i have the 400 ac plan and have yet to use all of that plus the unlimited in network. all my friends have VZW. so it works out great. brian s. > I use VZW as my primary phone with no problems. > I live in NJ. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply >I use a Cellsocket what is a 'cell socket' and how does it work? rgh martin > >I use a Cellsocket > > what is a 'cell socket' and how does it work? > > rgh martin Check out all the details at www.cellsocket.com Basically it is a charger, external antenna, and home phone system connector: It's pretty cool. How It Works Connect the Cellsocket to any regular wired phone through Cellsocket's phone jack. Drop your cell phone into the Cellsocket, and start making and receiving phone calls from any desktop, cordless, or extension phone in your home or office using your wireless phone service! >>I use a Cellsocket > >what is a 'cell socket' and how does it work? http://cellsocket.com Cellsocket is a "docking" device. You attach regular phone lines to the Cellsocket. The cell phone sits in the cellsocket recharging the cell phone along with sending all cell phone calls to your regular phones. To make a call from a regular phone you lift the receiver and listen for a faux "dial tone" and dial the number as you normally would with the exception that you end all calls with the # key which is the same as the send key on your cell phone. When you hang up your regular phone it automatically disconnects the cell phone. Cellsocket has limited compatibility with certain Motorola and Nokia models. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CellSocket - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply You might also consider dock-n-talk (www.phonelabs.com) seems to have more options to connect and a viable competitor (although this market is still extremely immature). > >I use a Cellsocket > > what is a 'cell socket' and how does it work? > > rgh martin > Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Occasionally make a 1-800 call for something like tech support or > something like that for 5-20 minutes. I run a small 1 man consulting business from a home office and had 3 phone lines coming in. The main line that all my clients have had for years was classified as a "business line" by the local phone company and with all the features I had on it, way paying over $100 a month for it-- over double what it would have been as a "residential" line. Of the other two lines, one was my "home phone" and the other was a line I used for fax and dialup internet service. I also had a VZW cell phone that was running $45 a month I ported the "business" line to VZW, increased my cell minutes to 1000 which raised my cell bill some-- but my net savings is about $80 a month. I use the landline for local outgoing calls and so far, have been fine on the size of minutes used each month. The upside is I get my calls anywhere I am in the country (I travel a bit like most consultants) and the only real downside is having the damned cell phone clipped to my pajama bottoms or sweatpants when I'm sitting around the house during "office hours." Rhett My wife and I do this already. We use a cablemodem connection for the Internet, and we each have our Verizon cell phone. We don't need (or have) a landline @ all. On 3/28/04 11:23 AM, in article 11e2f463.0403280823.2717830f@posting.google.com, "Scott H" <bulldog269@hotmail.com> wrote: > Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this > route before. In news:BC8CCD88.76D5%biengracias@hotmail.com Pablo Lizondo <biengracias@hotmail.com> wrote: > My wife and I do this already. We use a cablemodem connection for the > Internet, and we each have our Verizon cell phone. We don't need (or > have) a landline @ all. How do you handle the concept of your "home phone number"? Do you give them both out, or did you designate one as the main number? SignatureBert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@visi.com We each give out our own cell number as our phone number. So for my documents, job, forms, etc, it's my cell listed as my home number, and with her, it's the same for her things. On 3/28/04 6:54 PM, in article Xns94BAB6355BD0FVeebleFetzer@209.98.98.13, >> My wife and I do this already. We use a cablemodem connection for the >> Internet, and we each have our Verizon cell phone. We don't need (or [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Do you give them both out, or did you designate one as the main number? One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the millions with a land-line connected security system. I know there are some who use a dedicated cel phone for this purpose, but then it isn't useable for anything else. >My wife and I do this already. We use a cablemodem connection for the >Internet, and we each have our Verizon cell phone. We don't need (or have) a >landline @ all. There are several alarm system modules that don't support dialing regular numbers, but have no monthly fees for monitoring and have a built in cellphone that dials 911 and delivers a message up to 40 seconds. Result, no monthly fees. It can also dial up to 9 other numbers, but to dial anything other than 911 you have to activate the cellphone and pay a monthly fee. I live and travel in my RV, it's handy for people on the move that have no landlines at all. seconds. > One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the millions with a land-line > connected security system. I know there are some who use a dedicated [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Internet, and we each have our Verizon cell phone. We don't need (or have) a > >landline @ all. >One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the millions with a land-line >connected security system. I know there are some who use a dedicated >cel phone for this purpose, but then it isn't useable for anything >else. Maybe it needs to be stated again that a one size fits all situation does not exist. Some people can do very well with just a cell phone alone while others need it for varying reasons such as sharing a place with someone or need to have a wireline phone line for alarm services or to "talk" to the satellite PPV service or the cable PPV service. Other people don't have those stipulations. Just as some people may require the better coverage that Verizon provides and others do not need it and instead get more minutes for their money and know that their coverage isn't as good. You get what works for you is the bottom line. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply > Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this > route before. Hey Scott, since you have a lot of good questions about the details of using a cellphone (nothing wrong with that) my first suggestion is to find out which cellphone providers your coworkers, friends and family use. Ask them how they like their service. Be sure that you have good coverage at your home. When your friends/family come over find out what providers they have and compare the quality of their reception. Once you do that the next step might be to try using a cellphone for a year or so. Pick out a provider/plan that works for you but don't cancel your home phone until you're sure it works out. Then do what another poster recommended, put your home phone on the lowest cost measured service with a no monthly fee long distance provider. Even though it's still there, don't use your home phone, tell everybody you know and all your financial relationsips to use your new number and use only the cell and see what your individual pros and cons are. I have been using my cell as my only phone since I signed up for cable modem service. But I made sure that I was going to have cellphone service at my home first. It seems like a lot of people are dissappointed with the level of service they get from cellphones, so don't jump into it before you know what you're doing. Good luck, Randy. I use my cell phone for all my calls. I have kept Verizon landline as well. You can get their "budget service". Click this link to check it out. http://www22.verizon.com/foryourhome/sas/ProdDesc.asp?ID=1750&NPA=215&NXX=493&Ca tegoryID=86&state=P1&pkgname=Budget+Service That way you are never without a landline in case of emergencies. Signature-Jesse http://www.pixelpages.net/jesse Disclaimer: Spelling & grammar errors are made on purpose for those who are fulfilled by correcting others. > Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay > almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > area (Madison, Wisconsin) so I was wondering if anyone has gone this > route before. > I use my cell phone for all my calls. I have kept Verizon landline as well. > You can get their "budget service". Click this link to check it out. http://www22.verizon.com/foryourhome/sas/ProdDesc.asp?ID=1750&NPA=215&NXX=493&Ca tegoryID=86&state=P1&pkgname=Budget+Service > That way you are never without a landline in case of emergencies. I have only Verizon and no landline. BellSouth (at least in my area) allows access to 911 and to BellSouth from my landline, at no cost. So, I'm covered as far as emergency access goes.... Steve B >Just curious on this I've been wondering about. I currently pay >almost $30 a month from Verizon for a regular line plus long distance [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Occasionally make a 1-800 call for something like tech support or >something like that for 5-20 minutes. Have you checked into whether a cheaper landline plan is available? $30 seems high to me. My SBC (nee Illinois Bell) bill is ~$20/month for more local calls than you and the same or less in-state LD. We recently switched to SBC's own LD to get rid of MCI's monthly charge for something we never use anyway. That said, if I were living alone, I would have just the cell and no landline. SignatureDavid Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time. "The idea that a congressman would be tainted by accepting money from private industry or private sources is essentially a socialist argument." - Newt Gringrich, 1989 Also not mentioned, and it may be of limited applicability, but with one cell phone in the house, you have only one phone to "find" when it's ringing. I don't know about anyone else, but in my house with 2 cordless phones, I often dash for the corded one since I _know_ where it is :) In a big house, the phone may be quite a distance away. (I know, unless you carry it with you all the time) mark I've done this myself...I would never go back to having a home phone |
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