giving up landline for cell phones

[dean]

Hi

The wifey and I are thinking about giving up our landline phone and getting 2 cell phones. Has anyone done it? Any good or bad things about the idea? Can we get one cell with our present phone #?

Thank you

[RANDY P]

big airtime minutes unless you go with an unlimited plan. Limited talk time based on battery - out of battery, out of talk. Also, using it long term is a hassle - bluetooth headset, or a cramped neck. Also, if you have guests that stay with you then you're playing pass the cell phone.

If you use your phone for biz, forget about having any privacy as well - it'll never stop ringing.

Good alternative is VOIP service if it's the long distance you are trying to save.

rjp

[on-ramp]

what about the radiation?

[legion]

Did it two years ago, no regrets.

Advantages:

-No $40 a month bill for a landline I hardly use.
-No telemarketing calls.
-No wondering if I missed an important call.

Disadvantages:

-Keeping phone charged. I have a charger at home, in the truck, and at work, so I'm very rarely far from a charger.
-No phone for guests. Being a 20-something, all of my friends have cell phones, so no issue there.
-Nextel (my provider) doesn't have coverage north of Green Bay, so when I'm on vacation, no one can get a hold of me...wait, move this to the advantage column.

[Jim Richards]

our son did it. we just did it, too. no more land lines in our future.

[nostatic]

have to have a LL to have DSL.

[legion]

Originally posted by nostatic
have to have a LL to have DSL.

You don't have to, but the phone companies like to require it.

I went with cable broadband.

[artplumber]

Faxing is a major PIA.

Cable is better than DSL.

[dean]

Hey thanks for your posts.

I didn't even think of half the stuff.

We have DSL and I like it. I don't like Cable so I would keep the DSL. Can you have DSL with no land based phone? I would think so.

And I do use a fax.

***** I don't know what to do now.

Thanks again

[nostatic]

Originally posted by dean
Can you have DSL with no land based phone? I would think so.

The DSL uses the LL circuit. I don't see how you can have one without the other. Verizon didn't give me a "DSL-only" option...

[Langers]

How do you guys make international calls on your cells? How much does it cost?

[jrdavid68]

Originally posted by nostatic
The DSL uses the LL circuit. I don't see how you can have one without the other. Verizon didn't give me a "DSL-only" option...

It's coming.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/20/BUG67HQ0P319.DTL

Part of the FCC requirements for the AT&T / SBC merger was that AT&T offer "Naked DSL" within two years (around 12/2007). However, at least in Califronia, it should be available in a few months.

I believe Qwest already offers something like this in some of their territory.

There is always the 911 issue with cell phones or VoIP. No power - no VoIP - no 911 service (that's assuming your current VoIP has 911 service). If no cell phone signal - no 911 service.

At least with a traditional phone line (without any vertical services, a basic line is less than $20/mo) you will have access to 911 service even if the power is out, as long as you have a non-powered phone in the house.

I suspect that when Naked DSL is available, there will be an even cheaper basic Dial Tone option. I don't see myself without at least one basic phone line in to my house.

DSL speeds are pushing 6Mbit now, as good or better than cable. Eventually over fiber, those speeds will be 30Mbit + and include video. Where this is being tested, cable rates have decreased 50% - imagine that!

http://www.sbcforyou.com/uverse/?DCMP=att_uverse

[VINMAN]

I work for the big V co. People are dropping landlines at an alarming rate. DSL, which sucks in my opinion, is probably half the reason why some people are keeping LLs. Soon as the FIOS up and running, DSL will be as obsolete as dial-up.
The only reason I still have a LL is because the wife refuses to get rid of it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Mobile is unregulated. One reason the telcos want you to do this.

One major disadvantage to the "only a cell phone" thing - you're required to give out a phone number for SO much crap now and there are SO many databases out there, do you really want your mobile number being in them all? I keep a land line (unlisted) and give that number out to anyone that asks for a phone number. I give out my cell phone number to people I think ought to have it - big big big big difference. I have yet to get a single unwanted or annoying phone call on my mobile.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Langers
How do you guys make international calls on your cells? How much does it cost?

www.skype.com

Its free from computer to computer anywhere in the world, and costs about 1c a minute calling to a land line, cell phone and such. As well if you are out of the country and need to call a "800 or free phone" number, its usually impossible from abroad. With Skype you can call any number in the world.

My copilot had a $500 cell phone bill last month while he was out on the road. I got him with Skype and he put $10 in the account 3 weeks ago. He is 35 and talks on the phone 3x as much as I do and still has over $7 on the account.

Try it, its very good. One hint is not to use a USB headset, get the one with two plug-ins. Seems to be less lead/lag in the calls. With the "two plug" version I call friends and they say its as good as a "land line" call in the states.

Also, Ebay purchased Skype two months ago and now they sell cell phones there that are a direct link to Skype. Have not tried one but have heard that they are very good.

Joe A

[legion]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Mobile is unregulated. One reason the telcos want you to do this.

One major disadvantage to the "only a cell phone" thing - you're required to give out a phone number for SO much crap now and there are SO many databases out there, do you really want your mobile number being in them all? I keep a land line (unlisted) and give that number out to anyone that asks for a phone number. I give out my cell phone number to people I think ought to have it - big big big big difference. I have yet to get a single unwanted or annoying phone call on my mobile.

I give out a made-up number if I don't what a phone call from a company. Many companies will (or at least they used to) strip cell-phones from their databases. My cell is on the do not call list. I have gotten one telemarketing call on my cell in two years, and I threatened to press charges against the company (I have no idea if I can actually do this, but it did work) for soliciting to an unlisted phone number.

[vash]

the only downside, that i see is emergency services. once you call the dispatcher, they know your address. that can save precious minutes. if i ever get a burglar, i am dialing 911 and setting the phone down, then set up a defensive position.....

if i had kids, i would keep a landline.

[RickM]

The quality of a cell phone call is still not the same as LL. I just can't get over that.

But here's an idea I've toyed around with for a while:

Make a hybrid cell / cordless phone system. This would utilize the Panasonic home type cordless phone type setup with a base and up to 8 remotes. Anyway, an enterprising EE could design a convertor that your cell phone is cradled in and coverts/feeds the cell call data stream into the cordless base system. The box could also incorporate a charger, external antenna and amp if needed.
When you recieve or mske a call it automatically goes through this system when the cell is in place.


Also, I believe most cell carriers and states have adopted E911 (might have been federally mandated). This is a GPS/Phone based system that assists in locating callers automatically when calling 911.

[legion]

Originally posted by vash
if i had kids, i would keep a landline.

Yep, I expect I'll have to get one again when I have kids. As for now, I'll save my $480 a year.

[vash]

wow. $480 a year? damn, teach the kids to run next door and use their phone. i pay $19 per month, just for the basics. it never rings...EVER!