topic Re: Mobile or Landline? in Off-Topic

Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Mon, 08 May 2017 17:56:52 GMT

I recently read on the BBC Technology page that in the USA more people use their mobiles than landlines. Apparently many households don't even have a landline and rely solely on their mobiles.

This particularly interested me as I don't have a landline and exclusively use my mobile . My reason is that I make so few phone calls that I cannot justify paying additiinal line rental for a service I rarely use. I can browse the net, do on-line shopping, send emails and messages (the latter through Whatsapp not SMS),play games and do a search on any subject even how to spell a word on my mobile. And, of course, make the odd phone call.

So all if this made me wonder what's the situation here in the UK? I assume all of you have a landline as well as your mobile. So my question is which do you use most: your landline or your mobile? And what do you use your mobile for?

Re: Mobile or Landline?

ComaChameleon — Mon, 08 May 2017 18:12:19 GMT

That's a trend in Germany too. Maaaany people just use their mobiles. But it's hard to get a tariff without it (broadband, glasfibre), the just don't use it. Most tariffs it's VoIP included.

I like to talk on landline if I'm home. I like that the landline handset is a bit ...more and you "have something in your hand" (hardly to explain that feeling). But I have to add it's only a good quality if the handset is quality too (using Gigasets for MANY MANY years).

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2017 18:15:06 GMT

I have a landline but never use it & always use my iPhone

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Beenherebefore — Mon, 08 May 2017 18:34:03 GMT

I raised this as a discussion point just after O2's 4G started to be implemented.

But could the 4G infrastructure cope if consumers changed ?........just remember the old BT 8meg ADSL....it groaned under the strain.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Mon, 08 May 2017 18:59:03 GMT

Thank you @ComaChameleon and my apologies. I should have said Europe to include members of the Community outside the UK. Very interesting to hear Germany appears to be going the way of the US.

I'm curious @Anonymous why you always use your mobile rather than your landline. Many of my friends are like you and say they have a landline purely to get a broadband package for their PCs/laptops.

Obviously I need broadband and have mobile broadband so that I can download games and books, and stream films/TV shows. And software updates on my phone also need a Wifi connection.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Mon, 08 May 2017 19:09:41 GMT

Very good point @Beenherebefore. And 4G is still to be fully rolled out in the UK

And I have also noticed I often don't have 4G coverage and I live in central London where you would have thought there'd be no problem - wrong!

Could the 4G infrastructure cope if consumers changed - I'd say no.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2017 19:53:36 GMT

mobile ... have a landline connection for broadband, no handset ... have been like this for a few years now

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:15:54 GMT

Yep @Anonymous my friends are exactly the same. I keep meaning to have a landline put in purely for broadband but I admit I'm lazy and also, for the moment, mobile broadband (20gb) suits my needs.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:32:53 GMT

@Glory1 I have a phone/tv/broadband package so landline is only used in emergencies basically

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Mon, 08 May 2017 21:32:39 GMT

Of course, makes sense @Anonymous and I never thought of that. Virgin, I know, offer a phone/TV/broadband/mobile package and I imagine Sky will get in on the act as they've started advertising Sky mobile. Great idea.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

jonsie — Tue, 09 May 2017 02:59:37 GMT

I had a Virgin package back in the UK but it annoyed me that they and most other ISPs make a landline compulsory. There is no need this day and age especially with cable reaching more and more people.

My landline was used solely for incoming calls mainly from my boys because it was cheaper for them but now they have their own mobile allowances so cost didn't come into it. Many annoying wrong numbers and sales calls too which I let the answer phone deal with.

Home phones heading the same way as call boxes, for some essential but for the majority unnecessary now.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Tue, 09 May 2017 04:29:49 GMT

You have, @jonsie, stated why I don't have a Virgin or Sky package the compulsory landline. As you say it's totally unnecessary but you can't get a package without it. I know I tried!

Re: Mobile or Landline?

gmarkj — Tue, 09 May 2017 11:11:46 GMT

We have a a package deal with Virgin.
My O/H works from home sometimes so she uses that to make calls (not got unlimited on her phone).
Family also call us both on that rather than mobile as they too have landlines.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Cleoriff — Tue, 09 May 2017 12:11:26 GMT

I have a package deal with BT which includes a landline. Many of my friends prefer to contact us via this route particularly if they dont have mobiles. There are some who dont!!

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Marjo — Tue, 09 May 2017 14:13:04 GMT

Interesting discussion! From a point of view of a Finnish person I can say that probably around 10-15 years ago (more or less) people started to get rid of their landlines because it ended up costing more than having a mobile phone.

And also because they didn't need a phone line anymore for internet connection either since that too evolved, it was not used at all.

Somehow I still miss our home landline phone for sentimental reasons though. It made a fun noise when dialling. It looked something like this one:

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Anonymous — Tue, 09 May 2017 14:37:51 GMT

I have to agree with @Marjo a Refresh contract is a lot cheaper for me in the long run rather than a landline

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Tue, 09 May 2017 15:10:23 GMT

I agree with both of you @Anonymous and @Marjo as that's exactly my view. But as @Cleoriff says not everyone has a mobile phone. Something we tend to forget.

And @gmarkj also pointed out that his partner doesn't have unlimited calls on her mobile so needs a landline when working from home. Something I certainly never considered.

I'm really finding this discussion very interesting.

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Martin-O2 — Tue, 09 May 2017 15:30:30 GMT

Same for myself. Had a land line and realised I hadn't used it for about 6 months apart from cold callers so scrapped it. Broadband and a mobile covers all my needs.

This was 10 years ago now but still remember the number

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Glory1 — Tue, 09 May 2017 17:48:26 GMT

A few of you have mentioned cold calls on your landline. I get cold calls on my mobile!

As I receive so few calls on my mobile I always check the number when I receive the odd call. If the number is unfamiliar - usually the case - I decline the call. I then check the number and it's always a cold caller. I then block the number.

The only calls I'm likely to receive are from my doctor's surgery, though they now tend to text or email me; my landlord - though they also tend to email me and the pharmacy that fills my monthly prescription.

Oh and @Martin-O2 I can beat your memory. I still remember my parents' phone number when I lived in New York and that was 52 years ago 😉

Re: Mobile or Landline?

Anonymous — Tue, 09 May 2017 20:43:50 GMT

I've only ever got cold calls on my landline not via mobile