Cell-Phone-Only Homes Outnumber Landline Holdouts

Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:27PM EDT

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For the first time since these kinds of things have been tracked, the percentage of homes with cell phones only (14 percent) has surpassed the percentage of homes with only landline phones (12.3 percent). The trend is sure to keep moving in that direction as more young adults who rely on cell phones don't see the need for a landline and the additional bill that comes with it when they start paying rent.

That percentage shift, discovered between September 2006 and April 2007, comes from Mediamark Research, which has been following phone usage since the 1980s. In a survey of 13,000 U.S. homes, Mediamark found 84.5 percent of households have landlines, and 86.2 percent have at least one cell phone. Of course most of those homes are one and the same, but it shows we have clearly become a multi-phone species.

We're not ready to give up a landline just yet at our house. Has anyone left landline service behind? Or will you keep both for a long time to come?

LINK: Cell-Phone Only Homes Hit Milestone [New York Times] 

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  • 2 Posted by dougdagaz on Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:04AM EDT Report Abuse

    Funny you should ask... I am trying to convince my wife that we do not need 2 land lines along with her two cell phones (one for work and one personal), my cell phone, and my son's cell phone... yes, that is 6 numbers/phones... 2 land, 4 cell...hmmm I think it is time to bring it up again...

  • 3 Posted by bherrontn on Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:07AM EDT Report Abuse

    It's not just young adults, I'm 50 and I gave up my land-line when I got broadband...and Skype. I still need a cell phone for emergencies and to receive calls at home but it's so much cheaper than my old land-line.

  • 4 Posted by kaplanchisholm on Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:41AM EDT Report Abuse

    We know two families that no longer use landlines. It works just fine for getting in contact with them. I wish they would both get text in their plans so I could do that rather than call. You can't call anymore to just leave a message because it's always on their person. Remember the days when you would call specifically when you KNEW no one was home because you did't want to have a long conversation? gone....

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