2nd cell phone
 

I'm thinking about cutting my land line (I have two) and having the number ported to a pre pay phone. With that phone I would receive messages but never dial out or text. Just want to know the lowest possible cost.

The only real reason to do this is to keep my very old number that lots of people have that don't call very often. I've had this number since the late 90's. I don't really want to go to a forwarding service or an announcement that "the number has changed."

Any advice?

remember it is much easier for 911 to find you on a land line

Here's a recent thread with my and quite a few other good suggestions...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/641830-land-line-phone-option.html

Oops, sorry Milt, I see you were already on that one :)

I wonder how much longer the average household is going to have a landline?

I understand the business usage of a landline and I understand when people want to keep the number going. But it is getting to the point that every 10 yr old has a cell phone. I'm 23 and will never have a "home" phone (unless there is a business need). I don't know anyone in my general age bracket that has a landline. There is just no use at this point.

It'll take some time (a generation thing) but eventually landlines will be like "pay phones"...you'll have to search for one imo :).

Dumped mine. I have a cell and a magic jack just for the home business.

Land line is a rip-off.

You should be able to get a prepay phone for about $10 a month - keep on mind that the cheaper you go, the more they'll nickel-dime you for stupid stuff like texts...

No choice here.......no cell service at home.

have you considered Skype?

Zeke,
I did essentially what you are wanting to do. We dropped our land line and wifes cell is now our "home" phone. I wanted the cheapest way out to have one for occasional/emergency use.

T-Mobil has a pay as you go plan which worked out perfectly. Three years ago I bought a cheap phone and paid $100 for 1100 minutes which are good for a year. At the end of the year I paid $30 for 300 more minutes and this rolls any remaining minutes from the first year into the new year. Essentially I paid $100 for the first years service and $30/year after that. As long as you buy additional minutes before the year is over, the plan rolls any remaining minutes into the new year.

T-Mobil may not be a good option out your way but other carriers probably have a similar plan.

Also, to keep wife's phones cost to a minimum (she mainly uses it for texting), we have had MagicJack for several years ($20/year) which we use when around the house for outgoing calls only.

Land lines are cheap. Have them turn off all the features like call waiting and it should be under 20 bucks a month.

Do you really want to deal with a legacy land line from the telco? I don't. Having to monitor "call units" or track what's "long distance" and what isn't... Very passee, PITA nonsense that doesn't even come into the equation with newer technology. Plus it's one less bill. I like the idea of paying one predictable, known amount. Done.

Also, there are a slew of taxes and charges on land line service - much less with mobile phones (they're far less regulated). Look at a land line phone bill sometime - there are a LOT of extra charges on there to the point of obfuscation.

I like making a call from a land line and it not sounding like single side band audio. That's pretty awesome.

No worries, there wasn't really an answer for me on that thread.

35/mo here and I'm so stripped of services I can't call out of Long Beach.

Talked to Boost yesterday. They won't let me bring in my own phone. I have a perfectly good Samsung left from when I got the iPhone. I might be able to do this with Sprint, my current cell phone service. But then again, Boost is their cheapo service for teens, etc.

9-1-1? I have two land lines, they can find me or reverse dial me.

Damn! 35 bucks a month is expensive for basic telephone!

Add in a second phone or Family Plan option? Most are an additional $10 per phone per month.

That's what it was around here $15 years ago.