Going without a home phone and switching to cell only

[rnoldh]

I've been condidering turning off my home phone line recently. Not so much to lessen bills( though, that is always a good thing) as for convenience.

I've noticed that many people, especially younger people are using just a cell phone.

The advantages to me are convenience of just one phone #, and the ability to take the cell phone # wherever you go (though I don't plan on moving anytime soon).

I can see where this would be a no brainer for a college student or someone that moves around a lot and certainly for people without kids at home.

If someone was in the midst of raising a family and had a wife and kids still home I would think a home phone would be a good idea.

But, my situation is, single, kid grown, live alone, and I don't plan on moving anytime soon.

I will admit that I've never had a PDA and I've become enamored of the i-phone and the better Nokia PDA's and if I switch to a cell phone only mode I would get one of those.

What are your experiences? Are you younger and have never had a home phone? Do you still have both home and cell phones? Did you have both and switch to cell phone only?

 

[kwilkinson]

I only have a cellphone. I remember when we were kids we had a house phone, and my dad had the only cellphone. I think pretty much a year or sooner after everyone in the house got their own cellphone (probably 5 years ago) we dropped the landline. Seemed like a useless expense, since we all had our own phones.

Don't really feel like we're "missing anything" by not having a phone. Actually, I can't say I've noticed any differences at all in the time since we turned our landline off.

 

[celery]

No real reason to have both. You have voice mail on cell phones and can turn them off whenever you want. Very rarely have I seen people unplug their home phone so that they can't be bothered.

I have a PDA with windows mobile and it's pretty awsome. You have excel, word and power point, as well as document / image viewer, appointment planner and so on.

I say drop the home phone for a while and see if you really notice a difference.

 

[Skip87]

My house phone has a thick layer of dust on it... actually it doesn't because my house is clean, but I don't remember the last time I touched it.

 

[Piobaire]

I keep a home line for a few reasons.

First, to fax documents from home.

Second, my BB is a work phone and that number is widely circulated. I turn it off at night and I regularly have idiots leave idiotic v-mail through the night. I like when they get huffy I don't pick up.

Lastly, I want a # only my friends and family have, so when it rings, I know it's not work.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

First, to fax documents from home.

This is my reason as well. I also have DSL so I need a phone line.

Cell service was not working in my city during 9/11. My land line provides a nice backup in the event that happens again.

 

[montecristo#4]

I've been land-lineless for about four years and haven't missed it.

If I need to fax I scan to .pdf and email instead.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

I only have a cellphone. I remember when we were kids we had a house phone, and my dad had the only cellphone.

Ah, youth. When I was a kid, there were no cell phones....

 

[DocHolliday]

Not even the Zack Morris? That must have been, like, a hundred years ago.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by grimslade

Ah, youth. When I was a kid, there were no cell phones....
Cars didn't exist either!

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by Connemara

Cars didn't exist either!

And we powered our computers with hamster wheels.

 

[Fulcannelli]

although i have a land line, just get yourself a SIP number and leave your PC on for home use

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

I keep a home line for a few reasons. First, to fax documents from home. Second, my BB is a work phone and that number is widely circulated. I turn it off at night and I regularly have idiots leave idiotic v-mail through the night. I like when they get huffy I don't pick up. Lastly, I want a # only my friends and family have, so when it rings, I know it's not work.
1. Physically faxing a document is a thing of the past, man. With all the web-based faxing services available, there's really no need for a home fax (but you do need a scanner for faxing physical documents, though). I've done all my faxing/receiving from my laptop using trustfax.com. It's fantastic. 2. You could have two lines going to your BB. If you don't want a line open, just turn it off, no? I had a land line at my old apartment because my roommate was making a lot of international calls. I used it exactly once, to make an international call. Other than that, I don't even answer calls from that phone.

 

[grimslade]

Far better to get a VOIP line for international calls, FYI.

 

[Crane's]

Been on the cell only plan for a lot of years now. A copper line price for what my cell plan offers is ridiculous.