Landlines Will Be Obsolete in 3, 2, 1... - Comments Page 2

How does fiber optic phone service figure into this? Also, for years I've read research about the health implications of exposure to wifi/wireless "waves" and have avoided excessive use of this technology. So, we'll all be exposed regardless now?

Plato warned trust politics and end up ruled by inferiors. Dumbed-down USSA society congregates urban deforming and harming brains, damaging eyes, and increasing cancer by "smart" wireless EMF especially utility meters/modems/smartphones and staring at light screens under LED/fluorescent lighting. Healthier rural contrarian expendables clinging to our luminescent bulb stash and non-election landlines' better connection and emergency service are no longer represented in govt in league with business "public/private" liaisons. Fry, USSA, fry.

Bob, please delete my prior comment (bleeping auto-correct? ;)

Bob, thank you for best emergency alternative car phone charger when airwaves not jammed and USSA's graded D- electric grid not down preventing car start!
Plato warned trusting politics ends up ruled by inferiors. Dumbed-down USSA society congregates urban and deforms and harms brains, damages eyes, and increases cancer also by "smart" wireless EMF especially utility meters/modems/smartphones and staring at light screens under LED/fluorescent lighting. Healthier rural contrarian expendables clinging to our luminescent bulb stash and non-electric landlines better sound quality and emergency service are no longer represented in govt in league with business "public/private" liaisons. Fry, USSA, fry.

The Telco around here has invested millions in fiber optic cable and installing DSLAMs all over the place to provide Voice, Internet and Television over IP service to compete with the cableco. Very successfully I might add. The last mile is over that copper you say is deteriorating. They can't afford to let it go lest they lose market share.

I agree with other replies - landlines are still the best and/or only option for lots of people, and should not be dropped because of decision to stop supporting the technology by owner companies. They need to allow this technology to die of natural causes and give time for alternatives to be established first (and don't wait on wireless rural internet either).

It always amazes me when I see voip comparisons. Rarely is Magic Jack mentioned. I have used it for business and personal since 2008. Finally they came out with a number of free extra that were badly missed. Their new spam caller block is great along with several features use with landlines and some other voip providers. It has proven to be extremely reliable, able to use on home phone, cell, Internet, tablets, etc. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hopefully you did notice that I mentioned it...

For the millions of rural residents without access to cellular coverage, the abandonment of land lines could have devastating consequences in case of a medical or fire emergency. On a good day, we MAY get one bar of cellular coverage, but those days are few and far between. Our wireless internet service is fairly reliable, but in case of wind or ice storms, it could be down for a week or more. As usual, lawmakers listen to the lobbyists rather than their constituents. Guess we'll have to find folks who active listen to the people who put them in office.

Have you considered Straight Talk wireless? Works on the Verizon network same as a cell phone. Very much a landline type phone system. $15 +tax a month. Has batt backup for standby and talk with wire connected phone.
Just another thought!

I seriously considered consumer cellular ....they even sent me the sim card to switch from verizon.....BUT when I asked what my monthly bill would be, they said they couldn't tell me. I said well I read they will charge either 15% or 30% tax...which is it? and then, on top of state tax....I wasn't switching until they could give me a definite answer....which they could not....so..I didn't switch.

I had "old fashioned" landline service with Pacific Northwest Bell for 70 years. It always worked. Sound quality was always good. It always worked even during power outages lasting several days. The last few years I used a 74 year old rotary phone and that still works, with better sound quality than any cell phone ever made.

Will your new latest and greatest cell phone still be usable in 70 years?

I moved two years ago, to an area where Verizon no longer will install landlines. So now I am stuck using a cell modem for phone service. Terrible sound quality and battery backup lasts only 2 hours - power outages can last for days. Not to mention that much of the time the cell tower is overloaded and it is impossible to make or receive a phone call. I hope this doesn't happen when I have to call 911.

I have an antique Tracfone, Samsung slide cell phone ... I use it about once a month. I kinda like having a land-line phone b/c I have a phone in almost all rooms. They have intercom feature, so I can call my wife with one click. We bought U-Verse, so we have a bundled package. I think it's cheaper, b/c I have zero desire for a smart phone... I have 3 computer, and the smarties cost thru the roof... Yeah, I'm retired and am at home most of the time... My 2Cents

I've used Verizon's Home Phone Connect for my home phone. It has all of the bells & whistles, too. It's $23, including tax. When we moved from CA to TX I just unplugged the receiver unit and plugged it in when we got to TX. It's based on a cell tower, but since we're not roaming from cell tower to cell tower we get the reduced price. The part I like is everyone knows it's the home phone so they can talk to everyone in the house. We still have a smart phone for outside of the house, too.

Well, I have the only question - "How the Internet service would be delivered without any kind of landlines (copper, coaxial cables, fiber optic)?"

And I bet the answer to that question will draw a fat red "No" for the "End of Landlines" announcement.

Only after global (or regional) wireless Internet coverage with comparable to landline service cost will be created, the Landline Era will end. Be realistic. Please.

Although the bulk of the calls I receive on my landline are SPAM, I still have an older security system that relies on the landline when the alarm is triggered. I'm fully aware that there are cellular security systems available, but it would also mean investing in new sensors for doors, windows, etc. SimpliSafe seems to be the least expensive DIY option, but to get the same number and type of sensors it will still cost me a bundle. Even if I go the cellular route, the signal strength becomes a factor. As much as AT&T charges me for a landline, they ought to be made to keep the lines in service. AT&T ought to provide directories, too.

I would LOVE to consider something else, but living in rural PA means working with an iffy cable company or the phone company. Of the two, the phone company is more reliable, although that is also subject to opinion. We have very few choices. No Comcast, Verizon, or other high-speed service is available. I also live in a cell phone black hole. Even with a microcell repeater, the service is still woeful. Oh, for the day when I MIGHT be able to watch some streaming video...

My pacemaker is checked four times a year for proper operation. One of these four is in the doctor's clinic and the other three are over a land line. If the land line goes away, other options will have to take over. I haven't heard what those other options are yet.

Bob-very few cell towers have backup power and would go down with the power grid. Forget crowded networks consider no network!

I held on to my Verizon POTS until I was forced by Verizon to give it up. I loved knowing that when the power is out that I still have a land line. But I paid dearly for that. So I finally got the triple play (land line, internet, TV) with Spectrum blood-suckers and although I'm paying more for the package than everyone I know because Spectrum (formerly Time Warner) only gives deals to new customers and completely DGAS about 30-year customers, I'm saving money, about $50/month, and the service on the land line with Spectrum is not terrible. Not a good as the POTS line but that's fine with me due to the savings.

What empowers the telco to silence me? There is no cell phone service in my rural area, so I must rely on a landline. I use my landline to call the utility company on the 6 or so occasions a year power goes out in my area. During a power outage there is no computer service. Without a landline, I'd be without any form of communication with the outside world.