Can VoIP Service Replace Your Landline? - Comments Page 2

I switched to Ooma about a year ago and couldn't be happier: also have a cell phone. No dropped calls, no static, voice is crystal clear. I'm saving $45.00 a month. Wish I had done this years ago!

As a minor timing coincidence, my company is currently in the process of switching over to VOIP. I just got my new VOIP phone yesterday. The rationale is pretty straightforward: The company will save a fortune on internal calls which don't have to be routed through the phone company. The system will be integrated with other email and calendar and instant messaging services. It will be more secure, especially against outages (our company has backup power generators).

Of course many of these advantages won't apply to individuals seeking to replace their home land-lines. But clearly VOIP is no longer just a niche market, but rather something that big companies are willing to depend on.

If you have a monitored alarm system (fire, security, etc.), a landline is still required; at least it is by our alarm company.

We have TW cable for internet, TV, and one of our phone lines. Cable/phone go down so often (1+x/week), I would never rely on them to be there in an emergency. (Cannot understand people who use them for their security systems!) As any VOIP phone would only be as reliable as our TW cable service, a basic landline is still a necessity for peace of mind in our household.

One con not mentioned, when I did the switch, AT&T disconnected my Internet when my number was ported over to a VOIP service. So I was without phone and Internet for about a week before the problem was sorted. After a complaint with FCC, problem was resolved very fast. My VOIP is $5/month with many more features than my land line.

KRS (14 Nov 2013) brought up a very important point. Having a landline to use during power outages does no good unless you have at least one wired phone.

A few years ago the power was out in our area for about three weeks. I had a simple wired phone, so I could make and receive phone calls. However, everyone I knew used VOIP, cell phones, or remote phones. So when the power was off, they had no phone service except for the cell phones with very limited battery life. They could use their car to recharge the battery to make calls, but that did not last long enough for them to receive calls - unless the caller knew when the cell phone had been recharged.

Relying entirely on VOIP has an additional problem. You have no way to call your ISP to report that your Internet connection is down.

I've been using MagicJack for 6 years now with not many problems (updates would normally take care of them). But one problem I have is calling government lines and specific financial institutions it does not allow. Could never get this resolved

Will not use VOIP, period! :)

I must have a wired Landline, due to my husband's 11 Coronary Stents, in his heart. I must have a wired Landline, so that if, I have to call 911, it will show my address and phone number. I don't just want 911 to know, we need an emergency. I want them to know exactly what my address and phone number is ... This way the ambulance will know which address to come to, without me or my husband telling anyone. We only have to say ... "Help! Heart Attack" and someone will be on their way.

There is no way, to make things better with a VOIP service. It may be cheaper, but, not for us. Our lives depend on a Landline Phone number, for emergencies.

Yes, Landline Phones can go out of service, but, usually they do well, even in major disasters, except when the telephone lines and poles are completely torn up.