Thinking about going without a wired telephone

Jim · 2005-01-11, 02:41 PM

So, we are in the middle of getting things setup at the new house. I was going to have my phones moved but then started looking at using only our cell phones. So, I found this product.
http://www.phonelabs.com/prd05.asp
Anybody use it???

Cleo · 2005-01-11, 02:46 PM

I've thought about killing my land line but haven't since my alarm needs it plus I've heard horror stories of people that needed 911 or something like that and they don't deal with cell phone calls very well.

Another option is VoIP using your cable modem but then you have the same problems with your alarm system and 911.

Actually I've been thinking of adding a cheap ADSL line to my land line for backup in case my cable modem goes down.

Jim · 2005-01-11, 02:49 PM

My sister uses a cable telephone. Sometimes when she is talking you just can't hear her and she doesn't know. I called 911 for my grandmother a couple of weeks ago with my cell phone without any problem.

Cleo · 2005-01-11, 02:57 PM

The only problem with the cell and 911 is that they can't tell where you are. Not a problem if you can give them the correct address but if for any reason you can't then you are fucked.

Ironically my satellite also needs a real land line. My TiVo does too.

My home number is actually a business line from the days when I needed such a thing. It pisses me off that I have to pay $60 bucks a month for this since all that I really need is a basic line. I almost never use it and calls to it end up mostly forwarded to it. So I'm basically paying 60 bucks a month to keep my TiVi, satellite, and alarm happy.

Once in a great while I also have to send a Fax.

Torn Rose · 2005-01-11, 03:02 PM

Jim I know someone who has it, and I do not think it's worth it, everytime I've called on that line static was awful and he sounded like he was talking on a speaker phone standing 10 ' away.

$0.02

HC-Majick · 2005-01-11, 03:03 PM

i cut the landline about 8 months ago, and i think the only real issue i've had was ordering pizza (very important for a single guy). They want a phone number, and it took ALOT of covincing to get them to accept the cell phone number. Other than that, no problems and one less bill every month.

Cleo · 2005-01-11, 03:09 PM

I saw something the other day that cable companies are going to be allowed to offer phone service. I remember that Comcast was mentioned and that they would be offering it very soon.

Cheap video phones and more become possible with the infrastructure that the cable people have in place. This seems like it could really hurt the phone people with their old copper wire systems.

Things are going to get very interesting in the next 10 years.

Torn Rose · 2005-01-11, 03:11 PM

duh, forgot the rest of what I wanted to say....

We have not had a land line in over a year, not really missing it, but may get one for the rest of the year for fax and to have something better when talking to family and friends, since our cells aren’t exaclty the best.

Thanks to getting fucked over by Sprint our cells are old and outdated and I refuse to pay $400 and then having to wait 3 months for a rebate when some Joe can walk in the door and get the same thing for free after joining for 2 years. So I am waiting for our last 11 months of the 4 years we wasted with Sprint to end in November so we can go with Cingular or someone else who allows replacements every 2 years.

But I know more people who use just Cells then I do those who have both, looking forward to the days of being able to plug a fax into a cell phone.

Porn Meister · 2005-01-11, 06:01 PM

Talk with your landline provider about their "message-rate" service (cuz they wont tell you about their cheapest service unprovoked of course). It's generally only a few dollars a month for inter-lata calls and taxes, plus required line maintenance and dial tone.. so 'bout 20 bucks is what you should be paying for a landline.

Mine is about $21 and some change per month with taxes.

Porn Meister · 2005-01-11, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cleo
I saw something the other day that cable companies are going to be allowed to offer phone service.

Oh hell, Cleo.. time warner has been offering the shit outta that here for months and months already. In fact, everytime they call me to offer it, I remind them that i've declined them half a dozen times already and I dont want them to market anything to me ever again please thanks bye..

Plus I tell them they cant beat my $20 phone bill (their cable-phone service is $40 a month! lol!)

T Pat · 2005-01-11, 06:37 PM

I've been landline free for two years

2005-01-11, 02:41 PM	#1
Jim Banned Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mohawk, New York Posts: 19,477	Thinking about going without a wired telephone So, we are in the middle of getting things setup at the new house. I was going to have my phones moved but then started looking at using only our cell phones. So, I found this product. http://www.phonelabs.com/prd05.asp Anybody use it???

2005-01-11, 02:46 PM	#2
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	I've thought about killing my land line but haven't since my alarm needs it plus I've heard horror stories of people that needed 911 or something like that and they don't deal with cell phone calls very well. Another option is VoIP using your cable modem but then you have the same problems with your alarm system and 911. Actually I've been thinking of adding a cheap ADSL line to my land line for backup in case my cable modem goes down. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2005-01-11, 02:57 PM	#4
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	The only problem with the cell and 911 is that they can't tell where you are. Not a problem if you can give them the correct address but if for any reason you can't then you are fucked. Ironically my satellite also needs a real land line. My TiVo does too. My home number is actually a business line from the days when I needed such a thing. It pisses me off that I have to pay $60 bucks a month for this since all that I really need is a basic line. I almost never use it and calls to it end up mostly forwarded to it. So I'm basically paying 60 bucks a month to keep my TiVi, satellite, and alarm happy. Once in a great while I also have to send a Fax. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2005-01-11, 03:09 PM	#7
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	I saw something the other day that cable companies are going to be allowed to offer phone service. I remember that Comcast was mentioned and that they would be offering it very soon. Cheap video phones and more become possible with the infrastructure that the cable people have in place. This seems like it could really hurt the phone people with their old copper wire systems. Things are going to get very interesting in the next 10 years. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2005-01-11, 06:37 PM	#11
T Pat You can now put whatever you want in this space :) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Paridise Posts: 3,244	I've been landline free for two years __________________ How To Keep An Asshole In Suspense I'll Tell You Later

2005-01-11, 02:49 PM	#3
Jim Banned Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mohawk, New York Posts: 19,477	My sister uses a cable telephone. Sometimes when she is talking you just can't hear her and she doesn't know. I called 911 for my grandmother a couple of weeks ago with my cell phone without any problem.

2005-01-11, 03:02 PM	#5
Torn Rose "Faith is believing what you know ain't so." ~ Mark Twain Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 4,806	Jim I know someone who has it, and I do not think it's worth it, everytime I've called on that line static was awful and he sounded like he was talking on a speaker phone standing 10 ' away. $0.02

2005-01-11, 03:03 PM	#6
HC-Majick You can now put whatever you want in this space :) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 541	i cut the landline about 8 months ago, and i think the only real issue i've had was ordering pizza (very important for a single guy). They want a phone number, and it took ALOT of covincing to get them to accept the cell phone number. Other than that, no problems and one less bill every month.

2005-01-11, 03:11 PM	#8
Torn Rose "Faith is believing what you know ain't so." ~ Mark Twain Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 4,806	duh, forgot the rest of what I wanted to say.... We have not had a land line in over a year, not really missing it, but may get one for the rest of the year for fax and to have something better when talking to family and friends, since our cells aren’t exaclty the best. Thanks to getting fucked over by Sprint our cells are old and outdated and I refuse to pay $400 and then having to wait 3 months for a rebate when some Joe can walk in the door and get the same thing for free after joining for 2 years. So I am waiting for our last 11 months of the 4 years we wasted with Sprint to end in November so we can go with Cingular or someone else who allows replacements every 2 years. But I know more people who use just Cells then I do those who have both, looking forward to the days of being able to plug a fax into a cell phone.

2005-01-11, 06:01 PM	#9
Porn Meister Asleep at the switch? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 214	Talk with your landline provider about their "message-rate" service (cuz they wont tell you about their cheapest service unprovoked of course). It's generally only a few dollars a month for inter-lata calls and taxes, plus required line maintenance and dial tone.. so 'bout 20 bucks is what you should be paying for a landline. Mine is about $21 and some change per month with taxes.