What Primary Phone Service Do You Use in Your Home? (house, cell phones)

[AVTechMan]

For awhile I have been using high-speed internet with VOIP, and eventually a cell phone. However I have noticed nowadays that many people are using their cell phones as substitution of their land lines at home for their primary means of communication. To be honest, I am not even certain that it would even be feasible for me to get a land line once I move into my house. I think the only need for something like that nowadays is to use it for sattelite service when ordering PPV events and such. Other than that I have no need for a land line. I was just curious on what the masses here use as their primary phone service.

[Nelly Nomad]

Everyone in our little family has a cell phone. However, we still have a house phone. My husband uses his cell mostly for work. My son uses his cell mostly for friends. I give my cell number only to family, the school and now, my Real Estate agent (we're selling so I want her to be able to get in touch pronto).

Personally, I don't like being on-call 24/7 and that's what seems to happen with the cell. By giving limited access to my cell number, I know when it rings, it's important. Unlike my son and husband, I don't like keeping the thing plastered to me at all times.

We keep the house number to give to non-essential callers. If we're here when it rings, fine. If not, fine. It's also nice to have one centralized line that's not specific to any one of us.

One other reason for having a landline is where we live now. Our area is prone to bad weather and tornadoes. When the electricity goes out, which it does at times, the landline should still work, even if the cells are out of battery. Nice to know we have the backup.

[AksarbeN]

Interesting and I understand that point of view; there are reasons for having cell service or hard landline service. For safety and convenience I carry a cell phone in the car. For safety and convenience I always use a hard landline and the extensions in the house.

Landlines provide extensions in a home. I can’t and won’t carry that cell phone around the house, while no matter where I’m at I can get to a phone extension in the bedrooms, family room, kitchen or garage should it ring. Also more important, if there is an emergency I’m usually in the room with the landline phone extension but my cell phone is sitting on the counter at the far end of the house in the other room.

In an emergency I’d hate to use the cell phone and have a DEAD battery! My landline is 99.999% working all the time.

Always have one old cord phone(non battery) in the house.

[nomoresnow]

All we have are our cells. I couldn't see having 2 bills every month. I can see, tho, where having a landline would be helpful in the event of a storm.

I don't believe one needs to be available for phone calls 24/7 and have no problem w/shutting mine off or leaving it home while I'm out.

[motormaker]

Land line for all the reasons Mr Ak stated and cells for travel, emegencies etc.

[115db]

We dont. We all have cellphones. But we're going to get a fax machine which of course, will require a landline. Will cross that bridge when we get there...

[AksarbeN]

Originally Posted by Livewire

We dont. We all have cellphones. But we're going to get a fax machine which of course, will require a landline. Will cross that bridge when we get there...

On a side note: Isn’t there PC faxing software available or through a website? You can scan it, save it, and fax it online through the internet.

And you can receive faxes through the same service.

[molochai2580]

I have a landline and a cell. I keep the landline for all above safety reasons and also, because our town hasn't updated to the E911 so if I have to call 911 in an emergency and am unable to speak to let them know what my address is or drop the phone, they can still pull up my address with my landline. This, of course, will be very important in a couple of weeks when I will be basically confined to my couch recovering from surgery and my husband is at work.

[AksarbeN]

Some of you already know this but for those that don’t. If you have a cell phone add a new user to your directory called I-C-E, and add a contact number. I have ICE and my wife’s cell phone number, also her office number with ICE.

Those that may rescue you might have to notify someone In Case of Emergency ICE and if you have a preprogrammed number on your cell ~ they can call right away to the correct contact.

[cottonwood2420]

I use a land line.