Cell-Phone-Only Homes Outnumber Landline Holdouts
Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:27PM EDT
See Comments (31)
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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27 Posted by sorella_d_luna on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:33PM EDT Report Abuse
Landline is gone. No more telemarketers. The only people that call you are the people you want to call you. However....beware! If you give your cell phone number out on the internet for shopping....or information requests....you will have telemarketers calling you...once they have your cell number, you're toast. So if you order that toaster on line, make sure you use a work number. I use my work number and when and if a telemarketer calls...I tell them you have reached a business office, do not call here again.
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28 Posted by cassandra_daniel@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse
I cannot imagine life without a land line. Although I do have a cell phone, reception often makes it difficult to conduct business. I have been in the middle of an important call when the call was dropped. I do not intend to ever give up my land line.
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29 Posted by gregandkimhouse on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse
it just so happens i had our landline cut-off this week -the only time it has rang in the last 5 weeks is 1 wrong number and 1 telemarketer. we didn't have long distance service, we used the cell phone (free long distance) and everybody calls us on the cell phones so it was just a waste of money
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30 Posted by angelhasflown on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse
I HAVE VONAGE AS MY MAIN LINE IT IS BEST EVER SINCE I HAVE FAMILY OUTSIDE THE USA
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31 Posted by dmt23703 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse
My home security company offers cellular and radio alternatives to land line service but I'm not comfortable trusting my security to either of those wireless communications, so I keep basic VZN land line service for the security system. If I wanted to access premium services from my satellite TV provider, I would also need a land line. We also feel better knowing the babysitter has a home phone she can use if she needs help. We've also taught the kids to dial 911 in an emergency, and with the land line the dispatcher instantly knows the address to send help. We feel the land line still serves an important role.
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26 Posted by jrmccarthyv on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse
Satellite TV does not REQUIRE a landline. I have dish and have never hooked it up. I think I pay $5 more a month or something, but that is considerably less than the $30-50/month for a phone line.