One of your most important channels of communication with the outside world may be cut off for hours due to severe mobile network failures. What use is a smartphone if it cannot make phone calls? particularly during an emergency.

A Verizon outage in September left some phones in SOS mode for a significant portion of the day, and an AT&T outage last year knocked out service for over 12 hours in many of the most populated cities in the United States. The dangers of depending only on mobile devices are brought home by these disruptions.

Perhaps it caused you to reconsider the role of a household appliance that was once commonplace but is now all but extinct: the landline telephone. Here’s things to consider when

deciding whether to keep (or get) a landline.

Remember the landline?

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Although just 28% of American households use a landline, the outdated landlines may still have a role.
Getty Images/Peter Dazeley
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Telephones that are connected to specific wiring in our houses are known as landlines. Although push-button and subsequently cordless landlines supplanted many of those old-fashioned phones in the past, the classic picture is of a rotary-dial phone, typically rented from the phone company, that hung on the wall or rested on a counter or table.

the 1980s. Over the course of more than a century, a worldwide communication network was established that links landlines to one another. However, many individuals decided to completely abandon landlines once cellphones became widely accessible and reasonably priced.

Compared to over 90% in 2004, just over 29% of US individuals lived in a home with a landline phone, according to a 2022 poll conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The crossover occurred around 2015, when smartphone sales began to soar, reshaping the IT sector and making Apple, the creator of the iPhone, one of the most valuable businesses in the world.

One person who hasn’t given up on their landlines yet is Ann Williams. When questioned about why she

maintains hers, she talks of relocating to Huntsville, Alabama, following the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak that left at least 250 people dead and caused days of power outages. Hearing about the incident made her realize how important it is to always have a phone connection, even if she moved there after the tornadoes.

In an interview, she informed me, “The weather here is so unpredictable,” However, landlines have dedicated electricity and frequently continue to function during outages. “We remember a day when it was absolutely necessary to have (the landline),” Williams stated.

What increases the dependability of landlines?

The infrastructure used by landline phones is distinct and is constructed from reasonably priced and dependable copper phone wires. They also lack the disadvantages.

of cellular networks, such as inadequate reception, distorted and low quality, or lost calls.

The fact that landlines often continue to function even during power outages is a major factor in why people maintain them, which is advantageous for those whose jobs include emergency services, business, or healthcare.

Since analog fax machines are similarly based on landline phone networks, the majority of medical facilities, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, and law and policy offices, must have a landline connection.

Drawbacks of landlines

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Do you recall phone books and cordless phones?
McQueen, Catherine/Getty Images

Landline (also known as Plain Old Telephone Service) regulations for phone providers are being phased out nationwide by the US Federal Communications Commission. Consequently, more residences and commercial buildings are being constructed using

ethernet jacks rather than phone jacks.

Landline phone connections aren’t inexpensive, either. CNET corporate cousin AllConnect adds that AT&T’s regular home phone package starts at $48 per month, and you have to use the business for internet too. Spectrum will charge as little as $20 a month, while CenturyLink will start at $30.

Additionally, copper phone lines are not used by all landlines. Increasingly, organizations are piggybacking their phone systems on their internet connections, a technology called Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. Only three service providers that still offer traditional landlines are presently tracked by AllConnect: CenturyLink, Comcast Xfinity, and Cox.

How to acquire a land phone

Give the local phone provider a call and inquire about phone services if you’re prepared to set up a landline. If

Knowing the location of the phone junction box is crucial if you reside in an apartment complex. If not, the local phone provider should be able to locate it. Usually, the landlord should be aware of it.

You should ask the following follow-up questions and note what to look for in the responses:

Are these landlines POTS or VoIP? POTS is ideal if you’re searching for dependability and security. VoIP can function, but be aware that it probably depends on your internet connection and modem.

Does the business have backup power systems if it uses VoIP to make sure the phone line continues to function in the event of a power outage? You may get backup batteries directly from the majority of businesses. You are able to Use an uninterrupted power supply, possibly from CyberPower or APC. Keep in mind that these are not the same as portable power supplies, which allow you to stay electronically powered while on the go but aren’t designed to continuously monitor for power outages and then kick in as needed.

Generally, local calls are free, but dialing out of your area code costs. What’s the rate structure? AT&T and other companies charge a variety of additional fees for both domestic and international long distance calls, with long-distance calls in particular being charged per minute, and the companies don’t always disclose that information on their websites.

For your long-distance conversations, use Apple FaceTime or Google Meet instead.

How to handle a landline

You’re not alone if you have a landline yet let it sit idle, draining your financial account every month. However, there are techniques to improve its usefulness.

One well-liked choice is Google Voice, which provides you with a new phone number that serves as a kind of central location. Google Voice then dials all of the phones you have linked to it, whether it’s a landline at home, a mobile phone, a work phone, or another phone.

If you don’t enjoy working with Google, there are other options like Zoom and RingCentral.

Additionally, a landline phone can be linked to medical alert systems and home security systems.

For long-distance discussions, instead utilize Apple FaceTime or Google Meet.

How to use a landline.

You are not alone if you have a landline but leave it unused, emptying your bank account every month. However, there are ways to increase its utility.

One popular option is Google Voice, which gives you a new phone number that acts as a sort of central location. Google Voice will then contact all of the phones you’ve linked to it, whether they’re a home landline, a mobile phone, a business phone, or another phone.

If you do not appreciate dealing with Google, additional options include Zoom and RingCentral.

A landline phone can also be connected to medical alert and home security systems.