Posted by Pierces Notary Services on 8/5/10 7:48am
Msg #347676

dropping land line - pros and cons

I'm thinking about dropping my land line and staying with just the cell. Has anyone had any success with just that. I currently have DSL so will have to get a cable modem through my cable company and set up EFAX or something similar to that. Any pros and cons to this?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/5/10 8:00am
Msg #347678

The fax is the main reason I don't get ride of my landline

I have unlimited long distance with my landline. I also have other considerations - such as my TV programming - the programming we have requires a landline...add to that what can happen to a cell phone signal, especially in my area...I like the reliability of my landline.

MHO

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/5/10 8:20am
Msg #347680

LOL...ride? rid too.. n/m

Reply by Julie/MI on 8/5/10 8:27am
Msg #347681

Re: The fax is the main reason I don't get ride of my landline

1. I detest talking on my cell phone it's not comfortable, it gets hot, and I worry if it's in the kitchen that it may fall into the sink or get yucky from having 3 children running around or water damage.
2. When we had the major power outage in 2003, my old fashion land line didn't let me down where those with digital or cell phones could not communicate.
3. As Linda said, I get all the free long distance I want which is helpful for faxing back docs that are not toll free numbers (not getting into an argument over those that refuse to fax back, etc)
4.My land line for personal/family business and some old clients that have found me due to having to change my cell phone number a few times before you could take your cell number to your new provider.
5.On Friday day, the cell phone goes in the drawer for the weekend as I rarely receive closing requests on friday nights and weekends. Then I'm free of that damned cell phone for the weekend and I'm not running around like a mad woman trying to answer it all the time. Sometimes it's NICE to not be found

Reply by Linda Juenger on 8/5/10 8:47am
Msg #347682

Re: The fax is the main reason I don't get ride of my landline

We had 2 landlines in our home, one personal and one business (mainly used for a fax). Got the bill one day for our personal landline and my husband and I both pretty much at the same time to cut it off. We are strictly cell now, with the exception of the fax, which we can also use to talk on. I had business cards made with mine and hubby's cell phone numbers and fax number and I mailed them out with all Christmas cards last year. I keep them in my car and purse and give them out when we're out and about. We are saving right at $80 a month which is just at $1000 a year. Don't miss it a bit. It hardly ever rang. So, this means our cell phones will be permanently attached to us for the rest of our lives. Not that I am thrilled about that, but it is what it is.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 8/5/10 9:05am
Msg #347685

Re: The fax is the main reason I don't get ride of my landline

One of the reasons too is most of the people call us on our cells now. Last week we had two calls on the land line the entire week. What's the sense in paying for it if no one calls us on it and I can scan/email docs using an internet fax service. I'm trying to cut costs obviously because my husband is on disability and we all know that doesn't pay much and closings have been down.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 8/5/10 11:25am
Msg #347737

Re: MagicJack

If you don't need to fax, you can get a MagicJack and use that as your landline. It's $25 for the MagicJack gizmo and $20 a year for unlimited local and long-distance. Of course, the MagicJack has to be hooked into the computer. I use it at my office location so I don't have to pay for a landline there.

I'm glad someone mentioned about faxing. I was considering dumping my landline, but I guess I can't! (can't use MagicJack for faxing or online conferencing)

Reply by bagger on 8/5/10 12:01pm
Msg #347749

Re: MagicJack

Well, MagicJack is basically a scam. Are you really saving that much? Your computer has to be on 24-7, and just wait until you want to cancel, or even better, port that number to another phone. Have you ever been downloading a file and tried to use the phone at the same time? A little choppy? MagicJack is NOT the voice quality that we have become use to. Do you really want your clients listening to a choppy conversation?

Reply by PAW on 8/5/10 12:33pm
Msg #347769

MagicJack = VoIP

Depending on your internet connection, bandwidth and speed, MJ can be okay or terrible, or everywhere in between.

Why would you need to cancel? Just let the term run out. Don't want to use MJ, disconnect it from your computer. MJ won't load unless it finds the device.

As for line quality, it too depends on your internet connection and varies from really, really poor to okay for voice traffic. Remember, it's voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and thus has all the same problems as trying to stream high definition video.

Reply by bagger on 8/5/10 12:44pm
Msg #347777

Re: MagicJack = VoIP

Just disconnect it? Let the term run out? They will continue to charge your credit card that $20.00 per year.
And, if you spent any money, or have advertised that phone #, when you do cancel, you will be surprised to find out that you do not own that number, and cannot port it to another company. MJ owns that number ans will not port it to Bell, Verizon or any other legit telco. Now, how much time and expense are you going to go through to notify everyone of your new #?
VoIP works very well if it is engineered correctly, the telcos have been using it for transport for years now, but you do need bandwidth.

Reply by PAW on 8/5/10 1:46pm
Msg #347789

Re: MagicJack = VoIP

They will continue to charge your credit card that $20.00 per year.

They haven't charged me, or even tried to charge after my term expired. I just couldn't use MJ after it expired.

As for porting numbers, I believe you are mistaken. According to MJ FAQ, "Number porting will be available first week of August 2010. There will be a nominal fee for number porting. In order to transfer a number on your magicJack to a new provider, eligible requests should be initiated by your new service provider, who will coordinate the transfer."

Reply by bagger on 8/5/10 1:58pm
Msg #347790

Re: MagicJack = VoIP

Well, things have certainly changed then. Probably due to complaints to the FCC. MJ wasn't any better than Vonage for awhile, they both brought a bad name to the VoIP technology.
(I have been out of the telecomm business for 2 years now)

Reply by MW/VA on 8/5/10 11:43am
Msg #347742

Re: The fax is the main reason I don't get ride of my landline

I'm with Linda & keep a landline mainly for my fax machine. I know others have done away with it, and scan & emails docs instead of faxing. My cell phone plan only has 450 minutes. I do use my landline for business calls. IMO you don't save that much by doing away with a landline & I deduct 50% of the cost on taxes. I know this statement will get some responses. IRS rules say you are only supposed to deduct the cost of a business phone.
Also, it is said that in the event of a major storm, where cell phone usage might be out, you should have a landline.

Reply by James Dawson on 8/5/10 9:16am
Msg #347686

I have two land lines, one I get free for life as a retiree. The other, I use for my fax line. I removed the voice mail and long distance features and got it down to around $25.00 per month. I use e-Fax but can still receive a fax on my land line or here on NotRot (view and print).

Now I'm toying with the idea of reducing it to "lifeline" service ( $14.00) which allows up to ten calls before you start paying a premium. I use me cell phone for everything else.

For internet, my daughter has a WiFi Hub and the four of us share her cost.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/5/10 9:50am
Msg #347702

Cell Phones are not secure lines.

Anyone can listen in. Landlines are secure.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/5/10 9:57am
Msg #347708

I disagree, Shoshana...at least in my neck of the woods

I know for a fact my phone line is compromised about 15 miles away - I know I've heard voices in the background on my phone while I'm talking to someone, and if I'm quiet enough I can understand everything they say..sometimes I hear the sounds of another phone dialing in my ear during my conversations. It's almost like the old-fashioned party lines. I've reported it - they can never find a problem.

I don't for a minute believe my landline is secure at all - especially in this day and age.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/5/10 9:59am
Msg #347710

Re: I disagree, Shoshana...at least in my neck of the woods

Well, let's just say they are more secure than cell phone lines.

Reply by James Dawson on 8/5/10 10:16am
Msg #347722

Re: I disagree, Shoshana...at least in my neck of the woods

That is called cross-talk....two wires are touching somewhere, at the B-Box, underground, Arial, even in the central office. That trouble can be isolated and repaired. Wire taps are done in the c.o. with a warrant. My .02

Reply by Doris_CO on 8/5/10 12:04pm
Msg #347750

Re: I disagree, Shoshana...at least in my neck of the woods

Linda, are you using a cordless phone? I had something similar years ago and the phone technician said to unplug the phone from the electricity and the wall, let it sit for about 1/2 hour before plugging it back in. That fixed the problem. The ghost voices were gone.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/5/10 12:35pm
Msg #347770

Yes, Doris..we've tried that....didn't work.

We had one tech out who did finally isolate the problem - they just can't seem to keep it fixed for a very long time...it's in a box about 15 miles from me...

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/7/10 12:27am
Msg #348008

What James said...

He definitely knows what he's talking about on this subject! If your central office is old (which is probably more likely in rural areas), I believe the likelihood of cross-talk is going to be greater. The technology out there is probably all over the place these days.

Reply by Mary Ellen Elmore on 8/6/10 1:46pm
Msg #347941

My hubby and I only have cells. We did keep the Vonage VOIP line cutting it to the $10 plan and it is on the fax machine.

The only problem we have encountered with that was a friend stayed here at the house with my sister-in-law, who has Alzheimer's, while we went to St. Louis for 5 days. The friend did not have a cell so we left hubby's.

I see no reason for it, Just an added expense.

We do have a landline with no number. We can only dial 911 from it. AT&T's choice to leave it that way when we cut it off.

Of cousre I could take the line from the fax and hook it in the regular phone if needed.

Oh, if you like DSL (I don't) many phone companies are letting you do no phone and only DSL. I happen to like my cable modem-much faster than DSL.