vB Easy Archive - How long have you been? (Cellular Only)

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How long have you been? (Cellular Only)
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Posted by: Wide_opeN

Landline free that is? Its been 7mths for me and I love it. Just gave a friend all my house phones the other day! Told'em to enjoy!

Posted by: mikethaler

I use my cel for all calls, incoming and outgoing. I have become addicted to my cel BT headset - so can't go back to using a landline phone. Still have limited phone service on landline because I have DSL. Limited phone is about $13/mo. DSL about $24. Also use landline for outgoing fax. Incoming fax comes in via fax service to email - $3.95 mo. for unlimited faxes.

...mike

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikethaler

I use my cel for all calls, incoming and outgoing. I have become addicted to my cel BT headset - so can't go back to using a landline phone. Still have limited phone service on landline because I have DSL. Limited phone is about $13/mo. DSL about $24. Also use landline for outgoing fax. Incoming fax comes in via fax service to email - $3.95 mo. for unlimited faxes.

...mike

That's cool . . . do they offer naked dsl in your area?

Posted by: mikethaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingular1977

That's cool . . . do they offer naked dsl in your area?

Good question. Think i'll ask.

...mike
Anyone here on SBC in Ca. know the answer?

Posted by: soy_intocable

Dumped landline in 2003 while in puerto rico, now in south florida. Using SPRINTPCS on a PDA cellphone (2032SP first now PPC6600). Also have a 7-11 SPEAKOUT prepaid Nokia 3595 as backup. Never go back to landline service. Also even now can make SKYPE PC-to-PHONE calls on weekday for free on open WiFi networks.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

I was sooo brainwashed back in 2003 thinking I needed a home phone. I envy you!

Posted by: Mrkrman_1

I have been land line free for phone service since 1997. Wow, it's been almost 10 years. I do have a fixed fax line. I would love to go wireless but fax is VERY important for me so I won't get rid of it.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrkrman_1

I have been land line free for phone service since 1997. Wow, it's been almost 10 years. I do have a fixed fax line. I would love to go wireless but fax is VERY important for me so I won't get rid of it.

what about efax?

Posted by: Mrkrman_1

I still need to be able to fax out printed documents on a regular basis.
I wish there was a way to plug a cell phone into a fax and it could use the cell line versus a fax line.
Are there any free fax companies? for that line I only need a fixed # to receive on. I also need to to be one of the 5 or so area codes in my area.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrkrman_1

I still need to be able to fax out printed documents on a regular basis.
I wish there was a way to plug a cell phone into a fax and it could use the cell line versus a fax line.
Are there any free fax companies? for that line I only need a fixed # to receive on. I also need to to be one of the 5 or so area codes in my area.

All u need is a scanner for outgoing faxes. For faxes you want to print just print! There's always a way around these things!

Posted by: Mrkrman_1

True but sometimes it's just easier to have a fax machine and that one single fax line.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrkrman_1

True but sometimes it's just easier to have a fax machine and that one single fax line.

Absolutely! But if you're HELL bent on being wireless as I am then these things are not optional.

Posted by: i0wnj00

Almost 8 long years...
Then there was the cordless phone that was sitting on my desk, 3.5 years later in the year 2006 I still have no idea why that was there. LD to the US or Canada...all taken care of through my provider.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by i0wnj00

Almost 8 long years...
Then there was the cordless phone that was sitting on my desk, 3.5 years later in the year 2006 I still have no idea why that was there. LD to the US or Canada...all taken care of through my provider.

Give it to a friend, this is what I did. Sorta of gave me closure! lol

Posted by: i0wnj00

My friends also ditched their landline.
I think the phone got trashed or it's hiding in a box.
I fear the latter...

Posted by: Wide_opeN

I like the reaction I get out of my friends when I try to convince them they dont need a landline. It's like talking to my grandmother about how to use a VCR. They still have the old school mentality that it's neccessary!

Posted by: mannyb

I've been landline free since June'01.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannyb

I've been landline free since June'01.

I so cant wait for my 1 year anniversary!

Posted by: stlsingledad

I just became landline free...well sort of. I moved from one area of the St. Louis Metro area to another, and didn't want a landline. I never used it anymore...it just ate up money for no reason. But...I have DSL and wasn't sure of going cable broadband. My DSL contract was up in April, and my 39.99 rate for 3mb service went to the standard rate of around $60. I could get cable for around $45.

When I went to transfer all of my utilities and phone over, I told at&t (sbc) that I wanted DSL, but not a home phone. After some run around, they offered me the new elite DSL service, up to 6mb speed for 39.99 monthly, with no contract and a locked in rate. But...I had to have a local number. So, I went with a basic line, no frills, bells, or whistles or long distance, and the cost of that plus the DSL was about the same as cable.

Sooooooo.....while I have a landline phone number here, I don't have a phone plugged into the jack. Just the DSL line. I have my phone in a drawer. I figure the cost of the basic line is just the "service fee" to have the higher speed DSL here. I can't even tell you my new "home phone number", because I didn't even write it down when they gave it to me. It's on my bill if I have to call for any DSL problems, but in the 15 months I've only had to call once, and that was for something I had screwed up. Otherwise their DSL service has been perfect.

I'm loving being cellular only. No sales calls, no phone ringing to deal with. If my cell rings I know it's somebody I want to talk to, because only those people have my number. Sweet.

Posted by: kamusta ka

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikethaler

Good question. Think i'll ask.

...mike
Anyone here on SBC in Ca. know the answer?

its not SBC anymore its At&t

but im pretty sure you have to have a landline to get the cheaper offers that at&t offer, such as the 15$ a month (do they still offer that?) well if you dont have a landline they just give you the regular price which could be from $30-50 for basic service.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

I just kicked my obsession up one notch further. I've now replaced Comcast and strictly tether with my cell phone!

ISP=Cingular
Phone Company=Cingular

Posted by: French

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingular1977

I just kicked my obsession up one notch further. I've now replaced Comcast and strictly tether with my cell phone!

ISP=Cingular
Phone Company=Cingular

Then isn't your speed much much slower, and wouldn't this require a data plan?

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by French

Then isn't your speed much much slower, and wouldn't this require a data plan?

Yeah it's slower but it saves me 45 dollars a month! I already had the unlimited data from Cingular for 20 dollars a month in addition to comcast. So slower but more savings!

Posted by: Institute

I have not had a land line in 3 years.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

November will be 1 year for me, time and time again I ask myself what was I thinking having both: landline and cell phone all those years!!!!

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

I am ditching it on Wednesday. I only have it for DSL, and I hate the company I am with (TDS Metrocom). I am nervous, but excited. We going with Comcast cable for internet.

My wife and I have 700 shared, and about 2400 rollover minutes, so I am not really worried about going over our minutes, but it still lies in the back of my mind. Convince me otherwise. Neither one of uses that many minutes.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy Fluid

I am ditching it on Wednesday. I only have it for DSL, and I hate the company I am with (TDS Metrocom). I am nervous, but excited. We going with Comcast cable for internet.

My wife and I have 700 shared, and about 2400 rollover minutes, so I am not really worried about going over our minutes, but it still lies in the back of my mind. Convince me otherwise. Neither one of uses that many minutes.

Trust my friend you will be FINE!!!!! I pretty much have the same setup as you, and have been good to go!!! Dude you will love being wireless; I can't explain it, it's like you're getting over somehow... ya know???

Anywho keep us updated on your wirlessness!

Posted by: troyboy30

7 years or so

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Well, my wife cancelled our landline today. We have about 4 days left until it turns off. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I have been considering going with an el cheapo Vonage plan, but am still unsure.

I feel like I am doing something wrong by having no landline, but at the same time, I feel on the free side.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy Fluid

Well, my wife cancelled our landline today. We have about 4 days left until it turns off. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I have been considering going with an el cheapo Vonage plan, but am still unsure.

I feel like I am doing something wrong by having no landline, but at the same time, I feel on the free side.

I know what you mean, the thing is you have to be open minded and let the landline do what it needs to do and DIE!!!!!!!!

Posted by: quint101

I've been wireless only for 2 years. Landline was there because the college provided it in the dorms. I have no computer and hence no 'Net at home. If I need phone assistance, I use my prepaid TMo or I use the payphone (or phone at work).

Posted by: baffled

Two and a half years now - and have never looked back!

I changed to a plan with more minutes and got a (then) newer cell, and bravely yanked the cord. Saves me $25 a month easily, plus the free long distance.

I can receive faxes thru my computer and scan in outgoing ones on the printer/copier/scanner to send out thru the computer.

I highly recommend it!

Posted by: twelve_eight

3 years, and I love it.

Posted by: bogdatov@yahoo.

4 years wireless. And 6 months wireless + VoIP (Skype for USA, internetcalls.com for international).

Posted by: babiboi

What can i do if i want to get rid of my landline, but still need internet at decent speeds. I cannot do it through my cable do to my current situation, and I am not trying to pay 40 to 50 dollars just for DSL. Any ideas??

Posted by: qwerty11

Quote:

Originally Posted by babiboi

What can i do if i want to get rid of my landline, but still need internet at decent speeds. I cannot do it through my cable do to my current situation, and I am not trying to pay 40 to 50 dollars just for DSL. Any ideas??

Depending on where you live there might be wireless data services. Terestrial broadband towers (WiMax?) Or get a data card or tether to a phone. There are many cell providers that have wireless data plans.

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Quote:

Originally Posted by babiboi

Our cable is only 57 a month, after the first 6 months.

Our DSL + the landline was about that much.

Posted by: bogdatov@yahoo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by babiboi

See if you can get Verizon FiOS. It is way faster than DSL or cable.

Posted by: Mcrizzle

I've been wireless more or less since I moved out for the first time 3 years ago. I actually got a LAN line for a year in there so I could use DSL.... but I NEVER EVER used the thing... so I switched over to cable internet and went back to no LAN line...

I've never looked back,

Posted by: charmainia

More than 3 years and I plan to continue without no landline in the years to come

Posted by: lmarine

I've been landline free for 2+ years. There is no cable in our area - for TV you gotta do the dish thing. I needed fast Internet for business and went with Direcway (now Hughes). I have NO complaints - I even had Internet through Hurricane Rita (thanks to a generator) when everyone was out for over a week in the area...

As for long distance - I rarely used it before (had dropped long distance service 10 years ago) and have a calling card for the occassional need.

Posted by: Loudy

Landline free since 2005. Gave away my old fax mashine in 2004, and have been sending/receiving fax online since then.

Posted by: saa001

I gave up my landline phone almost 4 years ago now.

Regarding the mentality of not haveing a landline: a lot of countries have people who only have cell phones and landlines are extrememly hard to get. I feel that we are just starting to catch on to that idea. We are so ingrained to having a hardwired phone in our homes, that it is a big switch for us. Other countries where landlines are hard to get, they don't have to overcome that mentality.

I know when I told my parents about it, they questioned it. Phones were always hardwired and the majority of their life their homes had one. Giving up the landline is like giving up your radio or TV. It was just something that peole have had in their homes for many decades. It is hard for them to get past the new concept.

Absolutely no regrets (once I made it clear that I would not be availble every second of every day just because I was now using my cell phone, took about six months to get that one across to people).

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Here is also an additional idea to being totally wireless that may help some here as well! My wife, and I are totally wireless, but do to everyone having it so engrained in their minds that everyone should have a home phone; we simply added a third line to our family plan, and give that out as our home phone. People are none the wiser, and we don't have to put up with the hassle of friends and businesses expecting a home number but not having one!

Posted by: IACinger

The idea of adding a cheap "share talk" line for use as a "home phone" is brilliant. For some, that's $9.99 vs $25+. If you have naked DSL or cable internet, it works perfectly.

Posted by: Loudy

Without a landline It's hard to get good international rates even if you buy one of those $5 international plans. For some time my wife an I have been buying calling cards, but to be honest that is just one big scam! So today, we use something called Globe Dialer. The service is very straight forward. Calling card rates without all the hidden fees.

So now I have absolutely no reason to go back to landline :-)

L

Posted by: mcs328

At least 6 years if not closer to 7 years. No one called my landline when I had it and that wasted 20 bucks could buy me more minutes or saved for a new phone.

Of course I get poor reception in area I live in now but I can live with it.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by IACinger

The idea of adding a cheap "share talk" line for use as a "home phone" is brilliant. For some, that's $9.99 vs $25+. If you have naked DSL or cable internet, it works perfectly.

Thanx! It makes perfect since to me! It's like the family dog... it just lies around the house.

Posted by: gfunkdave

About 3 years now, though I started going over my minutes so I got the $10 SunRocket VOIP service.

Posted by: tgpt

I've been landline-free for about 3 years. For the last two, I've had nothing but a prepaid - first a Tracfone, and more recently T-Mobile.

At $0.10/minute, I find I end up spending between $15 and $35 per month, depending (obviously) on how much I talk. So during the months I spend $15 I save quite a bit (it's tough to find a contract where you can get 150 minutes for $15, and you can't get that on a landline including long distance), and during the months when I spend $35 I probably pretty much break even vs. being on a cheap plan.

Looks like I'm going to have to give it up, though - I'm moving to Switzerland, and it looks like cell calls are a lot more expensive there, particularly when you want to call internationally.

Posted by: mikethaler

[QUOTE=tgpt

Looks like I'm going to have to give it up, though - I'm moving to Switzerland, and it looks like cell calls are a lot more expensive there, particularly when you want to call internationally.

[/QUOTE]

Cel fones are much more expensive for use in Europe. Incoming calls are very expensive - altho that cost shows up on the bill of the person calling you.
You could make intl. calls for very little (or free fm. western Europe)via VOIP. You could get VOIP service here w. a U.S. number. A limited plan w. 4 or 500 min. would cost about $15. Many plans include W. Europe for free. My Lingo plan does.
...mike

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Well, it's been about 2 months now, and I love not having a landline. Should have ditched a long time ago. I don't regret it one bit. Still have not gone over our monthly minutes which I was worried about.

Posted by: localgod11

ever since I moved out on my own (about 3yrs now) Never saw a reason to get a landline hooked up

Posted by: smokeyb111

About a year. Strangely enough it seems as if I accrue more rollover minutes now than I used to. Somethingin the range of about 2500 rollover minutes. And I get 2100 minutes a month. 4 lines.

Posted by: kastonie

I have been landline free for 2 years.....well i have vonage, but i dont consider that landline.... I only use vonage for my satellite service so the box can get updates and whatnot, and to give that number out instead of my cell to keep the telemarketers off my cell....i think having voip and cell service is the best combo...landline sucks so much balls.... letme pay 50 dollars a month for something that i have to pay extra for long distance and can only use at my house.....

and i hate the landline fanboys that have that argument "but what if you need to call 911 and your power is out? im like well ill use the cell.. "but what if the cell network doesnt work?" well i guess i deserve to die at this point....

Posted by: French

Quote:

Originally Posted by kastonie

..."but what if the cell network doesnt work?" well i guess i deserve to die at this point....

Wow...that's not cool. There ARE times cell won't work when a landline might have the advantage. 9/11 comes to mind. However, I did finally decide to cut the cord and as of last week I am also landline free. I did convert the home number to a cell number, but I would rather pay $9.99 a month and get call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, etc., then pay $35 a month and have none of those features.

My plan is to cancel the newly converted number once I can prove to DH we aren't using it.

Posted by: saa001

For some people, cutting the phone line is pretty painless and a great savings.

There are people who should think twice about doing it (families with young children, those with life threatening illness, etc).

Like I have said before, I cut the line and have no regrets about it.

A lot of people have a certain mindset about phones and it makes it difficult for them to cut the line.

From what I have read the younger generation have a much easier time doing away with the landline mindset.

Posted by: French

I have no doubt in my mind that my step son will not get a landline when he leaves for college next summer. He uses his cell exclusively now so he would have no use for a landline.

Posted by: O_loung1

ive been landline free for the past 8 years but recently decided to go back on a landline.

its only used for security monitoring and it would be great to get rid of it again.
any other ideas

Posted by: underthehood51

VOIP & call for us for 2 years. Now that I have discovered how cheap overseas calls are on Cingular I may even get rid of Vonage and their pack of lies about free calls to Europe when I can dump Verizon Wireless and go completely Cingular. But even as much distaste I have for Vonage's lies I am still saving SERIOUS money over Verizon land line service. Only other time I've regretted being free of Verizon is when Insight messed everything up on May 5th of this year and I was without Internet for a month and without good service until this past week.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by kastonie

and i hate the landline fanboys that have that argument "but what if you need to call 911 and your power is out? im like well ill use the cell.. "but what if the cell network doesnt work?" well i guess i deserve to die at this point....

That is freakin hiliarious!!!

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by saa001

For some people, cutting the phone line is pretty painless and a great savings.

There are people who should think twice about doing it (families with young children, those with life threatening illness, etc).

Like I have said before, I cut the line and have no regrets about it.

A lot of people have a certain mindset about phones and it makes it difficult for them to cut the line.

From what I have read the younger generation have a much easier time doing away with the landline mindset.

I'm a father with 4 young children- 11 years, 8 years, 2 years, 1mth and I STILL see no need to have a landline! There is no scenario that can't be worked around as far as not having a landline (tivo,alarms,internet, etc...)! As far as 911 is concerned I'll deal with that road when I have to cross!!!

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by O_loung1

ive been landline free for the past 8 years but recently decided to go back on a landline.

its only used for security monitoring and it would be great to get rid of it again.
any other ideas

Ask them if they can use your cell phone for the monitoring!!!

Posted by: Hookman49

Wow, cool thread. I have been landline free for only a month but don't miss it at all. Thought I would have to bump up my minutes but have not needed to as of yet. No kids at home and no fax machine. So I do not see going back anytime soon!

Posted by: powerbook_dewd

I've been landline free for about 2.5 years now. Both my wife and I don't have any regrets about it.

We live in small-town IA and have had no problems with signal (granted... small town IA that's right along Interstate 35). 911 isn't an issue for me either. The few times that we've had power outages (storms, etc.) the cell network showed full strength.

We do have a 1 year old now. We're not sure how we'll deal with his needs for communication when he gets older. I'm not thrilled about giving him a cell phone until he is old enough to be responsible for the device as well as the social and financial aspects of a cell phone.

Posted by: French

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerbook_dewd

I've been landline free for about 2.5 years now. Both my wife and I don't have any regrets about it.

We live in small-town IA and have had no problems with signal (granted... small town IA that's right along Interstate 35). 911 isn't an issue for me either. The few times that we've had power outages (storms, etc.) the cell network showed full strength.

We do have a 1 year old now. We're not sure how we'll deal with his needs for communication when he gets older. I'm not thrilled about giving him a cell phone until he is old enough to be responsible for the device as well as the social and financial aspects of a cell phone.

I believe a cell phone has to be earned. When your child is under the age of 14 I would say it's safe to say he should be able to get by without one. Prior to that age his communication will be very close...he'll be relying on you for rides to activities, pretty much everything.

It's a personal decision when your child needs one, but let's face it...at the age of 10 you aren't going to be leaving your kid at the mall for the day. You'll have much closer touch with exactly where he is at during the younger ages. It's when the teenage years hit and they start getting their "independence" that I think the cell becomes an invaluable tool.

I actually converted my home phone number from a land line over to a cellular line and use it in conjunction with a Dock N Talk. I have regular phones plugged in throughout the house so when someone calls the "home" phone, we can answer it from anywhere in the house. That would be the only caution I would point out...if you and your wife are the only ones with the cells, then when your son is home he has no way to contact you (obviously this is for when he is actually old enough to talk). Adding a third line for $9.99 is a lot cheaper than getting a regular land line that after taxes can cost over $35!! You can continue to give out your direct numbers to friends, businesses, etc., but at least you will have peace of mind that there is also a way to call out from home. And when your son demonstrates he is ready for the responsibility, you can give him the "home phone" for the day.

Posted by: jollyrogr

I've been cellular only for almost 4 years now. Haven't missed a land line at all.

I don't get any telemarketers disturbing me, and only people I give my # to can reach me.

Posted by: elfguy

Almost 2 years.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by French

Well put, this exactly what I'm doing as of right now! My wife has a phone, I have a phone and when the kids come home from school there is the "house" phone which is actually a third cell for 9.99. I'm NEVER going back, they'll (phone companies) will have to work around me!!! Things like stand alone dsl, monitoring home via security, tvo, etc... I work around all these things; don't have security (cause I don't want it), have cable with dvr, and use my cell phone for my internet and phone... What!!!! Why would I ever need a land line???

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Happy 1 year anniversary to me without a landline!!!

Posted by: aquinon

No cables, no landlines, no answering machines, no access codes, no long distance plans, no local toll calls, no extra charges, no telemarketers, no surveys, no more getting slammed, no problem.

Cold day in h3ll before I go backwards to those days... Now, to get rid of that pesky junkmail in the mailbox...

Posted by: mch

Quote:

Originally Posted by kastonie

...
and i hate the landline fanboys that have that argument "but what if you need to call 911 and your power is out? im like well ill use the cell.. "but what if the cell network doesnt work?" well i guess i deserve to die at this point....

Well, I suppose there is some validity here. A couple of years ago there was a 30+ hour power outage where I live due to a windstorm (the Seattle area gets lots of windstorms). The various cell carriers stopped working around 6-24 hours after the power went out.

That said, how many people with landlines take the precaution of having a phone that doesn't require power somewhere in the house?

There are all sorts of ways we can pay for a little more additional security and safety. Landlines aren't 100% reliable either. However, the combination of a landline and cellphone should be more reliable than a cellphone alone. Is it worth paying ~$30/month for a landline that is only used to potentially call 911 in case of an emergency that coincides with an extended power failure? For many people the answer is "no." Certainly the two times I've called 911 in the last 12 or so years I've had a mobile phone, I've always used the mobile phone because I was carrying it, and my instinct was to use the phone I was carrying rather than go find a landline. Using the mobile phone I was carrying anyway also enabled me to stay with the person in distress.

Posted by: bubble.tea

Jan~March '05. Whenever Bell in Canada made dry loop dsl available. Thanks a LOT Bell., forced me to activate a landline from Nov. '04-Feb '05 and pay $55 cancellation

...bleh.

I cancelled the landline, and got wifey a cell of her own.

Our benefits...(some say our downfall)., our kids know how to handle a bluetooth headset by age 1

Posted by: themopedwhiz

About 7 yrs, airtouch/verizon , moto-brick,qualcomm 860, nokia ?, LG4500, LG8100, LG8500, LG9900 enV..

Posted by: zanshin

2.5 years with VoIP and mobile.

I considered keeping a conventional landline for emergencies, faxes, internet outages, that kind of thing. I travel a lot so I rarely used the home phone, but poor mobile reception kept me from going purely mobile. I briefly switched back to a landline about a year or so ago due to ISP problems. One thing I learned through that switch and a few conversations with the telco is, if you ask, there are cheaper rates than the $30+ ones everyone sees offered. When I switched, I could get a metered line that would go for $10-15/mo and I could have 30 outgoing calls a month before incurring other charges. I recall there was one even below that which you'd pay for each call. I coupled that with a long distance service which didn't charge a monthly fee, like Pioneer Telephone's Rate Buster plan, since the telco charged me if I didn't have a LD carrier assigned.

I got my ISP problems resolved and switched back, as I really needed things like simulring and voicemail notification, but even at over $50/mo, the telco couldn't offer the things VoIP has for less than half the price.

Posted by: snipchild

But just went VoIP (Vonage) on Friday last. It was a good run. I live in a three story house and my wife is pregnant. Getting to her phone just has not been easy for her at times. So, in addition to getting VoIP, I also bought a four handset 5.8ghz phone system with intercom. It solved multiple problems in our home layout.

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

About 4 months into it now, and I love it. The wife got a new job, and they will be paying for 2 landlines, 1 regular, 1 for fax, so we are going back to having a home phone. I am kind of bummed. I like only using my cell.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Heavy I'm kinda like you... I almost FEAR the day that I MAY need a landline. Hopefully it will not come!!!!!!!!

Posted by: French

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy Fluid

About 4 months into it now, and I love it. The wife got a new job, and they will be paying for 2 landlines, 1 regular, 1 for fax, so we are going back to having a home phone. I am kind of bummed. I like only using my cell.

You could always leave her "home" phone exclusively for business and continue to use your cell phone for personal.

Posted by: skadoo323

Hey guys. I have frequently checked this forum out but never posted anything. I have been without a landline for about 6 years (6 yrs with using my cell phone, and roughly 2 years with voip service). Pretty much the main thing to force me to use my cell phone was when I started college and hated the corded phones in our dorms that we weren't allowed to change it. I've had Sunrocket as my voip for the past 2 years, but recently got my own house and have been using it there. Overall I love not having to have a landline. As a previous member posted, I too have gone the route of using an expandable cordless system in the house. My cell phone plan has a good amount of minutes that I mainly use (go figure I have Sprint, who just throws freebies to their users) and then when I am not too lazy I will go ahead and use the voip when at home. Nice thing about voip is that I have been recently using the "simring" feature that Sunrocket offers, so now people can call one of my home voip numbers and the call gets forwarded to my cell phone, but now my home phone and my cell phone ring. This is nice when I am not at home or when I am home, since I normally always carry my cell phone around. Also if someone calls my home voip number and I was unable to answer, the caller can leave a message, but Sunrocket send me a text message, email, and even calls my cell phone to notify me that I have a voicemail, as well as I can listen to the voicemail from my pc or cell phone. I am not affiliated with any cell phone carrier or voip service provider, but I must say that I like not having a landline.

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Quote:

Originally Posted by French

You could always leave her "home" phone exclusively for business and continue to use your cell phone for personal.

I planned on it.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy Fluid

I planned on it.

With a landline in the house I might feel compelled to cheat on my cellphone!!!

Posted by: phairest

Planning to be cell-only very soon, going to move in the next month and ready to go sans landline. I've got my Tmobile cell/plan to serve my voice needs and tethering thru it for my net, hell it even accepts faxes for me. Way stoked about the money I'll be saving with just that vs a landline + fax line + DSL costs, thinkin that's $50-100 savings a month, and unlike a landline this goes where I go :] Now if only I could get cable thru it... lol

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by phairest

Planning to be cell-only very soon, going to move in the next month and ready to go sans landline. I've got my Tmobile cell/plan to serve my voice needs and tethering thru it for my net, hell it even accepts faxes for me. Way stoked about the money I'll be saving with just that vs a landline + fax line + DSL costs, thinkin that's $50-100 savings a month, and unlike a landline this goes where I go :] Now if only I could get cable thru it... lol

You sound like me, I use mine for all the above (except fax) as well. Doesn't it feel like your just a little bit smarter than everyone else??? Anyway CONGRATS

on dropping the landline!!!

Posted by: pstarn

I've dropped my land line almost a year ago. So far it's only for the better. 90% of the calls on my land line were marketing calls anyway

Plus, my cell phone plan allows for unlimited long distance calls anywhere in Canada and the US, and I'm saving money in then end.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by pstarn

I've dropped my land line almost a year ago. So far it's only for the better. 90% of the calls on my land line were marketing calls anyway

Plus, my cell phone plan allows for unlimited long distance calls anywhere in Canada and the US, and I'm saving money in then end.

Remember to pat yourself on the back at your 1 year anniversary mark!!!

Posted by: billp

me and my wife ar 2.4 years on a family plan just added our fourth phone to it still cheaper that a land line phone plus last summer here there was mor than one time land lines where down and only the cells where up after some havey storm and a flash flod of the rive/canal so i feel more well of with the cells that i do the land line plus me my wife her 17 year old daughter and now her mom(how we just added as a xmas gift to our plan) all have our own # so important call do get messed up with a message and and some thing remain privite

Posted by: specialk0449

I just ported our landline to my wife's cell phone. We are now totally wireless. The savings was $45.00 per month. The port took four business days. Verizon did a great job of porting the number. I have a Verizon aircard for my tablet pc. Our Verizon family share plan has many more features that our landline service did. It feels great being totally wireless.

Posted by: rcharles234

I moved to a new townhouse in December 2005. Never ordered a POTS line or anything from Verizon.

I use my Cingular cell phone for all calls. It's been great. I take the phone when I'm out and, at home, it links to a device (Dock n Talk) that connects the cell phone to my house wiring and house phones. I can pick up a house phone on any floor in any room and make or receive a call via the cell phone. On incoming calls, the cell even transfers the caller id info (including name) to the house phones equipped to receive it.

Now looking at VoIP to reduce the cell minutes where i can. Would love to get a dual-technology cell phone with VoIP built in but they seem scarce and expensive. I may buy a Wi-Fi VoIP phone and a VoIP service plan until the vendors catch up with the technology.

Cheers!

Ray

Posted by: gsmxcrunner

I'm planning on ditching the landline when our cell contract is up in July. That way we'll have time to figure out if we need to add minutes or switch providers entirely.

My only question...does Dish Network REQUIRE a phone line? I understand that I won't be able to order PPV through remote but I read somewhere that Dish charges a 5 dollar "programming access" fee for every receiver not connected. If they charged that, there would be no point in getting rid of the landland.

Posted by: rcharles234

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamusta ka

its not SBC anymore its At&t

ATT agreed to some basic services as part of FCC approval for the ATT-BellSouth merger. One part of the agreement is for a basic naked DSL line for $20/month. The intent, I believe, is to allow ATT customers to get just DSL and use independent VoIP services.

Ray

Posted by: poorman

Well, I still have a landline, and every day I look at it and wonder why I still have a landline. The easy answer is that it's a part of the AT&T/SBC bundle package, but that's a lazy excuse because with about an hour of calling the right people I'm sure I could cut down on my overall bill by cutting out the landline. *sigh* When will I ever motivate myself to get to that?

Posted by: ctk74

Landline free since April 2001. I did try VOIP for a while but gave up. My cell phone provides me great coverage and my usage is not that much. I have never gone over my alloted minutes.

Posted by: French

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorman

Well, I still have a landline, and every day I look at it and wonder why I still have a landline. The easy answer is that it's a part of the AT&T/SBC bundle package, but that's a lazy excuse because with about an hour of calling the right people I'm sure I could cut down on my overall bill by cutting out the landline. *sigh* When will I ever motivate myself to get to that?

Take the hour to rid yourself of the land line, and you'll be on your way to being able to change your user name.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

I tell you what I'll be glad when that naked DSL rolls out that at&t promised, I've been having bouts of weakness lately with wanting DSL, seeing how I could get a landline and DSL for the same price as cable modem by itself. Right now I don't have any pay TV services.

Posted by: VCI_Cell

I've never had a landline in my own name. Been cellular-only since the summer of 2001, and haven't changed phone numbers but once thanks to number portability.

Posted by: sifatshah

I've been Landline-free since 2002. Been hopping between the only 2 GSM networks in Canada, now I'm on an Unlimited Incomming & Outgoing plan and there's no looking back.

Posted by: FyrFytr

Landline free since 1999.

At that time, I moved out of my parents house, and into a volunteer firehouse to live. Of course there was a landline there, three to be exact, I wanted a way to be reliably reached, and be able to get my messages. So I took the big step (at the time) of getting a wireless phone from Bell Atlantic Wireless, now Verizon Wireless. I think it was something like $40/month for 300 minutes, and 2000 night & weekend minutes. In Calling? What was that?

As I moved out of the firehouse, and around to renting rooms from people, I paid for half the phone bill, but never used it. I kept that original phone number and have had Verizon Wireless the entire time, using my cel phone for 90% of my calls from home.

Now that I own my own home, I have no landline service. I have my VZW & Nextel wireless phones, and they provide me w/ all the minutes of usage that I need. I even have friends on my VZW family plan to reduce all of our wireless bills.

The only issue that I have w/ not having a landline is that I'm unable to have DirecTV service at my home, leaving Comcast Cable (

) as my only option for TV and internet. Other than that, I don't miss landline service at all.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Does anyone else get these letters from AT&T (formerly BellSouth) asking you to sign up for their service with special discounts!? It addressed to Residents @ my current address (with no active service I'm sure they don't know whether or not I'm still the active resident), and tries to make the cell phone seem like it can't be counted on in ermergencies!? Anyone!?

Posted by: bibendum

Landline free since March 2000.

With pre-paid and VOIP, I save about $600-$700 a year.

Posted by: BlueLS1Z28

i am not yet but as soon as i figure out a way to have internet i will be.
you do not need a landline for Directv.i used to work for them and am here to tell you to not listen to them.i installed systems everyday in homes without a landline.
drop your landline and enjoy your Directv!

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueLS1Z28

i am not yet but as soon as i figure out a way to have internet i will be.
you do not need a landline for Directv.i used to work for them and am here to tell you to not listen to them.i installed systems everyday in homes without a landline.
drop your landline and enjoy your Directv!

You're exactly right!!!

Posted by: thelawbabe

Ya'll are just great in here...I posted another time about how I use my nokia 6255 as a phone modem...I remembered the other day I forgot that my puter guy had me subscribe for "data services" on Cellular South...This is the coolest thing....okay, so now I am like ya'll, one minute away from unplugging my landline....kudos for all of you who have been "free", son has been free for 10 years...but he had cable for internet...I have only one choice where I live, rural Mississippi, and that's satellite.well two choices, dial up of course...after reading all the reviews on the installers of satellites that's out, I have now come up with another idea...well, two actually.

Follow the bouncing ball.. :.lol...one, I could get the broadband card from Cellular, since the reception is terrific at my house, or two....I can get computer guy to rig up my desk top like my laptop, I can use another cell phone, added on to my plan for $30.00 a month more.....lol...at first I thought well won't this blow up my desk top? hahahaha...then I tried it, but it needs a few tweaks..it dialed the number and all, just something I'm not doing right...anyway, it's just using it for dial-up, not for operating the power, so that works...and let me tell you it is fast...my dial up is 24 kbps, that sux and my nokia modem is like 150 kbps....I forget....but zips my laptop along, faster than satellite (use that at another house)...so I think I am finally going to pull the plug...I understand that 911 won't notice cell phone numbers, but think I read if you call 911 and register cell number that will work...anybody know about this? thanks for following this long saga....

Posted by: donovan1983

I have Comcast for Internet and T-Mobile for phone service, so no need for a landline. With HotSpot@Home, even if service is spotty in my home (thankfully it hasn't been in the last 2 places I lived as well as the current one) I can still have a usable phone there. I don't need faxing and I will never go back to DSL, so there's just no need for one. And I have never paid for landline service in my life.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by donovan1983

And I have never paid for landline service in my life.

That's what I'm talking about. The moment I disconnected the landline in 11/05 I instanly asked myself... "why did you even keep it that long". Sad to say before 11/05 I think I let tradition get the best of me, I'm still slightly mad at myself to this day for not disconnecting sooner!!!

Posted by: Wide_opeN

With the advent of UNITY on AT&T, maybe landlines could be on the rise!? Not with me of course!

Posted by: walkguru

im almost ready to dump my landline, after all these years.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

All you need to do is read this entire thread and you WILL be ready!

Posted by: thelawbabe

Well some sad news from my Nokia 6255 provider, cellular south....I can no longer use it. Ran my first into the ground, I loved it so much, that's the one I used for a pc modem, we went over that over and over...well, now, the third phone broke and it seems replacements are useless, cellular south took away all the software for brew and minibrowser, unless I want to use it in China, Asia, etc., don't ask, broken heart, but did get a new razor...moto...yeah...okay, so now I have all this "stuff" like five batteries, six chargers, ya'll know how it goes...having to buy all new "stuff", which I did from ebay...real spend thrift here...lol..anywho, now I get the joy of hours of fun finding out IF and HOW to use my "razor" for my pc modem...any suggestions helpful, no suggestions and I'll figure it all out myself like I did for the 6255...but suggestions would be really appreciated as I am losing strength in "learning" a whole new phone again!...boo hoo

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy Fluid

Well, it has been a year now since we got rid of the landline. I was so nervous back then. We opted for Comcast cable internet with the money we were spending on the landline + DSL. Ended up being about $5 difference. I have really enjoyed being wireless only, it is great.

Still have not gone over our monthly minutes.

Posted by: Mosaic55

I dropped the land line just about a year ago. I have internet through Comcast cable. I had Voip through Sunrocket until recently. Now that Sunrocket went belly up, I will be cell only once I can get numbers ported out of SR. I will park my old "home" number on a T-mobile To Go phone that costs $10 a year (after spending over $100 with them in the past year to reach gold level). People I actually want to talk to will get my new "personal" cell number. I'm also in the process of setting up Magic-jack for a cheap voip alternative, but I consider cell to be primary now.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

It will be two years for me in November.

Posted by: chivas

been landline free since 1998 with AT&T. the company i was with signed up with AT&T for their long distance and when i became the telecom manager (as well as network and database and hardware and etc etc manager), i got myself a cell along with the 50 other sales reps we had.
been on SIM since....... i think 2002(?) when i got a SE something or another that's small but what a POS.

i still have the original dark blue SIM chip. wished it had more memory for phone #'s.

Posted by: dentaybow

Been landline free for 20+ years. First with the old Motorola analog bag phone and 'smart box'. Now with digital Telular. Both with fax capabilities. Corded and cordless POTS phone everywhere (house, garage, barn, etc.)

Posted by: akumason

Wow, I haven't been as free as others here, but I've been free since 1999. I use VOIP but have without a landline for 8 years now.

Posted by: In'till'zah

Been landline free for about a year. Got rid of it at the old house and we never got service at the new house we moved into here this past May..

And we don't miss it (one less bill). We are trying to get my mother-in-law to ditch hers. But I think that may be a pipe dream.

Posted by: geoff.scottcomm

I've been cellular-only for a little over two years now, and I barely used my landline for about a year before that. What's the point?

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Happy two year anniversary to me!!!

Yeah, when I try to convince friends and family to drop their landlines, they act as if I asked to borrow a million dollars!

I always laugh a laugh of disgust, when I think how long it took me to get rid of my landline... lol

Posted by: Wide_opeN

How many of you since naked DSL has become available, have switched from cable modem service to naked dsl.

For the longest people in our situations without a landline had to by default use cable but now that naked dsl is becoming more and more prevalent, I wanted to know how many of you here have made the switch to naked dsl!?

Posted by: mikethaler

We just dropped the remaining phone line and have naked DSL from ATT. I think it's less than $15/mo. Not rated very fast but for emal and HoFo seems just as fast. Can't do outgoing faxes anymore. Still have HD DVR from cable co.
ATT still isn't set up to service naked DSL yet (Ca.). When you call in, they still want you to enter a phone number.

...mike

Posted by: i0wnj00

Wirelessly posted (i0wnj00: Palm750/v0004 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 6.12) UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by i0wnj00

Signed up for unlimited voice service with LD U.S and Canada through the cable co.
My landline free reign is over.

Posted by: neil_aql

six years ? something like that. being able to use a rotary dial looks like it's on the way to being an obsolete skill.

Posted by: mikeyis009

Haven't missed it a bit. Bye bye landlines

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil_aql

six years ? something like that. being able to use a rotary dial looks like it's on the way to being an obsolete skill.

On it's way out? I can't remember the last time I even saw a rotary phone. lol

Posted by: Pokerpua

I finally got completely cellular last year. I had a land line that I almost never used for the longest time but last year I decided to add it as a third line on my t-mobile family line. I had DSL for about two months last year to play World of Warcraft, but I got rid of it as playing the game wasted too much time. Other than that, for the past two years, I've accessed the internet by tethering with my cell phone. GRPS and edge have been fast enough to do what I need to do online and I'm looking forward to this T-mobile 3G to be released in the Chicago area.

Posted by: DNiceTheMighty

I should have done it sooner... I dropped the POTS service after Verizon could not do anything to secure the junction boxes in my neighborhood. Some people thought that it was their god given right to free phone service. Switched to Vonage, at first the novelty was of having VOIP service back in 2004 obscured other issues. Then I noticed voice quality was very low, even when I configured my service for high quality at the expense of bandwidth. Then the missed calls, then I realized that I was dialing each number 3 or 4 times because their system could not handle standard speed dial. Then opening an office in the heart of midtown NYC, increasing their financial overhead and charging local taxes swiftly brought an end to our relationship.
Next came Skype... once again, the novelty factor seemed to outweigh the issues. Mostly the call quality was great, however sometimes people told me they got other people's voicemail and sometimes other people answered. I ruled out human error since they were dialing from phone memory. Also, it was utterly dependant on my TWC internet which I'm sure favored their own VOIP devices. Now I am cellular only. I have almost no complaints about Verizon Wireless VOICE service. Most of my friends and family are on VZW so most calls are free. So I will be cell only for now. No I am not totally disgruntled with Verizon. (just in case the Verizon employees are lurking about...

)

Posted by: monkeyboy

We've also gotten completely cellular... the $10/AAP works well in providing a cheap "house phone", landline replacement instead of the $30-40/mo that we were paying Verizon Residential. And the device that sealed the deal was/is the Xlink BT box, which allows our "house" cell phone to drive all our normal house POTS phones... so no change in house phone usage behaviors needed. All in all cheaper and I think makes more sense than VOIP as a landline replacement...

Posted by: bottlecap

Hm I would say 5 years? I don't see why I'd want a POTS anymore. I've always got a way for people to get int ouch with me if they need to, and I <3 having caller ID

Posted by: Kaylan

Moving to cell phone only today =D.

Feels good as Bell Canada continues to mess up my bill monthly (which is the norm for them), providing inferior, 'mostly outsourced to india' support (I called Sympatico to reset an email password and ended up on the line with someone for AN HOUR...but at least I could semi-understand what was being said that time), archaic 'business hours' (I think they are the only canadian communications company you can't reach anyone that knows/can do anything after 5pm), messed up installation appointments, and of course the list goes on. Some of my coworkers used to work for Bell (both inhouse and outsourced) and the horror stories there are literally the norm.

</RANT>

Rotary phones are fun though. Ever had one of those suckers drop on your head? Ow ><.

Posted by: walkguru

last thursday i called and had it cut off. bye bye landline.

Posted by: nanosp

since 2002... though I signed up for a landline for a relative

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkguru

last thursday i called and had it cut off. bye bye landline.

Congratulations! It'll be 3 years for me in November!

Posted by: walkguru

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wide_opeN

Congratulations! It'll be 3 years for me in November!

3 years wow, long time.

been wanting to do this for awhile.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Yes sir, 3 years AND I have 4 kids: 12, 9, 3, 1 so don't believe any nonsense about it's good to have a landline for children.