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Examples are Skype, Google Hangouts, and/or Google voice. These systems use your wi-fi and they have no monthly fee. You can run them from your computer if you have a microphone, or you can buy a cheap android phone for $20 from Walmart and put Google Hangouts on it. If the phone supports android, you don't have to activate it as a cell phone to use it as a WiFi backup.
The other advantage of using Google Hangouts is you can make calls to people who you don't want to record your main phone number on the Caller ID. Google Hangouts show up as UNKNOWN on the Caller ID.
Just for clarification....I have an old Droid that I use at work to listen to music via WiFi.....no cell service for the phone, it's just for entertainment. I can use "Google Hangouts" on this phone to make calls ???....can I also receive calls???....this would be great being where I work has zero cell service, and I'm rarely near a phone if the Wife should need me in an emergency
Just for clarification....I have an old Droid that I use at work to listen to music via WiFi.....no cell service for the phone, it's just for entertainment. I can use "Google Hangouts" on this phone to make calls ???....can I also receive calls???....this would be great being where I work has zero cell service, and I'm rarely near a phone if the Wife should need me in an emergency
Yes! And the good thing is you can still use it to play music.
But to be fair I haven't figured out how to answer incoming phone calls. I have Google voice and Google hangouts, and I receive a call on Google Voice where it is recorded and transcribed (automatically makes a text version of the message). Sometimes the transcriptions have errors so you have to listen to the message. then you can call them back.
Google gives you a variety of choices for a phone number. In my case I chose one with the last four same digits as my home number so it would be easier to remember.
For work you probably don't want to receive calls anyway. You would rather get a message and call them back at convenient times.
Google is trying to replace Google Voice with Google Hangouts. So eventually they will get all functions into one piece of software. There is also an app called Google Hangouts dialer. Just download all three.
I have Magic Jack as my landline. I have cable internet so it works fine. It's only about $30 a year and works great. I hate cell phones. I have one, but I keep it turned off and only use it if I need to make a call out.
Scratch Wireless suggests these chains for free wireless. If you don't want to pay for cellular, you can probably get wi-fi from the parking lot of one of these chains. You shouldn't be talking while driving anyway.
Page Plus Cellular sells a $10 (100 minutes) pay-as-you-go service that lasts 120 days.
No landlines for myself or my friends. Our cell phones are with us all of the time and with unlimited calls, why pay for a landline?
I think very few adults under the age of 35 have wireline phones anymore. Older people prefer them, or households with sick people. Sometimes homes with bad reception in the basement. A house with lots of children may find them cheaper. some people use them for medical equipment or home security systems.
If the government lets the legacy phone companies sell the copper systems and shut them down, the cable companies could offer VOIP service.
I got rid of the landline when I retired to save on monthly expenditures. Since I drive and have AAA I need to be able to call for help while out and about so the landline had to go for sure!
I got rid of the landline when I retired to save on monthly expenditures.
There are two good options for home use so that you don't put a radio next to your head for the rest of your life. Plastic headsets for between $10 and $20.
Connect to Cell or bluetooth linked phones. These have the extra advantage of allowing you to recharge your mobile phone near the base, and still answer the handsets through the house. Also, sometimes cell coverage is not as good in far corners of the house or basement, and these handsets will help with that.
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Free Wifi
