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We got rid of our landline years ago and bundled phone/voip with our cable & internet, but want to cut the cable cord.
So, I've been waffling between some sort of voip or just get a cell phone and port our current phone number to it.
The issues I have with the cell phone is I can't have multiple handsets in different rooms, and I have yet to find a cell phone (I have an Android and the rest of the family have current gen of iphones) that doesn't sound like the caller is talking from the bottom of a metal storage drum.
And if I go with another voip approach like Ooma, I'm tying my phone reliability to my internet provider which isn't the most reliable.
There are phone systems that have "Link2Cell", where you place your cell phone near the base station and it connects via Bluetooth, then you use your cell connection while using the wireless handsets all around the house.
There are phone systems that have "Link2Cell", where you place your cell phone near the base station and it connects via Bluetooth, then you use your cell connection while using the wireless handsets all around the house.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noodlecat
There are phone systems that have "Link2Cell", where you place your cell phone near the base station and it connects via Bluetooth, then you use your cell connection while using the wireless handsets all around the house.
Sadly, it only works, WHEN you place your cell phone next to it.
Or does it work on its own also, when you connect it to a hard-line outside phone line (landline)
To me, when used as an "extension" of your cell phone, it is not as good as having the cell phone physically with you (anywhere you are!). You 'only' have access to your cell phone when you are near an extension of that regular phone.
Sadly, it only works, WHEN you place your cell phone next to it.
Or does it work on its own also, when you connect it to a hard-line outside phone line (landline)
To me, when used as an "extension" of your cell phone, it is not as good as having the cell phone physically with you (anywhere you are!). You 'only' have access to your cell phone when you are near an extension of that regular phone.
That's exactly how I would use it: cell phone would ALWAYS be next to the base handset, then others would be dispersed around the house - like I have now with my voip set up.
The cell phone would be purposely bought to port my existing phone number over. So, if I have the handsets around the house, there's no need to ever move the cell phone.
There are phone systems that have "Link2Cell", where you place your cell phone near the base station and it connects via Bluetooth, then you use your cell connection while using the wireless handsets all around the house.
There are several advantages to this feature:
(1) You can recharge your cell phone when you get home in the evening and avoid the problem of recharging your phone in one portion of the house and having to answer your calls in another portion of the home.
(2) You may have poor reception to cell signals in the basement
(3) You can also add a free Google Voice number to the system in case you forget/break/lose your cell phone. You can still make phone calls. Google Voice numbers are convenient when you don't want to give away your cell phone number to people who will misuse your phone number.
Quote:
Originally Posted by irman
Sadly, it only works, WHEN you place your cell phone next to it.
Or does it work on its own also, when you connect it to a hard-line outside phone line (landline)
Yes you can usually connect one or two cell phones and a landline (which could be Google Voice). You need the $50 Obihai adapter to use free Google Voice service.
I have a landline and have no intention of getting rid of it.
Landlines tend to have better connections than cells. Landlines are physically easier to use than cells. Landlines don't get lost. Landlines don't need to be replaced as cells often do. Landlines are perfect for serious (or leisurely) calls at home when you want to give someone your full attention.
And, by the way, cell phones didn't work in NY on 9/11.
Let your mother have her landline.
I agree, let your mother have her landline phone.
Landlines have much better reception and call quality. And it's much easier to hear and speak on landlines because there is NO fading in and out which so many cellphones have which is very annoying and ruins calls.
The very annoying fading in and out of so many cellphones is reason enough to keep one's landline.
(I know some people will claim their cellphone (or iPhone for those who have an iPhone) never fades in and out)
When one speaks of connections, one is not speaking of 'being dropped' while speaking.
One is referring to the great reception and call quality - which is clear and easy to hear.
I agree landlines are physically easier to use than cellphones.
And agree landlines are perfect for serious or leisurely calls at home when you want to give someone your full attention.
Landlines have much better reception and call quality. And it's much easier to hear and speak on landlines because there is NO fading in and out which so many cellphones have which is very annoying and ruins calls.
I have been using Google Voice wifi on cell phones (I don't use the cell towers, just wifi) for 5 years. I thought that it would be better to have the flexibility to use it in public where there is free wifi, plus I could receive texts and Google Voice does an automated translation of voice mail to text (doesn't work well with accents).
But just last month I purchased an Obihai (Polycom) adapter so that I could talk on a 30 year old analog phone. The sound quality is so much better.
Why do you even need a landline phone? I haven't have a landline phone in over 8 years. Yes, a POTS line can be more reliable than a mobile phone but having a stable internet connection is more important than a POTS line. You can easily install phone apps on the PC to communicate with people. All of my relatives use Whatsapp or Line to communicate instead of phone number.
I ditched the land line 11 years ago. I have been exclusively on cell phone since. If someone needs me, they have my cell number.
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