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 Some people haven't had a landline in their homes for a decade. Some people still have then but rarely, if ever, use them. Those who do still use them are the same people who use other dated technology; it seems, such as basic cable and DSL internet. So what does this mean? Are landlines the dying art form of communication?
There are a lot of issues that landlines pose that make cell phones, PBX lines, and video calling services practical. Take, for example, the destruction of telephone line infrastructures after a disaster such as a hurricane or tornado. The work it takes to repair is bordering on not worth it. Or, the simple fact that they're susceptible to "spam" phone calls, which drives many people away.
Fire Island after Hurricane Sandy: Going Wireless
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the copper system of Verizon's traditional landlines was essentially destroyed. In order to repair them, Verizon would have had to do a lot of digging -- expensive digging, and digging under arterial roads. Even after everything was as good as new, there is still always the risk that another disaster will destroy it again. Was it worth it? Apparently not, since the company decided to abandon the availability of landlines in that area altogether and replace it with a wireless network which would connect home phones to cell phone networks. Rather than angering customers who were forced to give up their landlines, it had the opposite effect. Many saw the benefits of getting rid of their landlines and don't intend to ever go back.
VoIP Service
Consider countries like Canada, who are still somewhat attached to their landlines. Though they're still prevalent, more and more Canadians - especially Canadian businesses - are switching not to mobile phones, but to VoIP services. This service, which relies on an internet connection as opposed to a phone jack, is cheaper. It's more convenient, too: while you might have your VoIP set up on a landline phone, you can switch which phone it directs to, so even for PBX phone systems (private branch exchange, often used for business use), you can get a business phone call from home if desired.
What's Stopping Us?
Despite the fact that it's a communicative technology that's becoming obsolete, some people still haven't cut the cord. Some people feel that the quality on a cell phone call simply isn't as good as the quality on a landline -- and in some service areas, this might be true. Furthermore, there are still risks of losing service during a natural disaster during a wireless or VoIP phone call; the risks are simply different. Satellites and towers can easily be affected by heavy rain, wind, earthquake, et cetera. However, considering the speed at which communication technology has advanced over the past ten years (Skype phone calls are now crystal clear for most), it seems as though we're heading in the direction of landlines being a dead technology. It's probably a matter of less than a decade that these concerns are dismissed and landlines become obsolete.
Editor's Note: Sean Carter is an experienced writer who has been a contributor to many websites all across the internet. His main interests include fishing, networking solutions and economics.
License: Creative Commons image source
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