Phone Status

rolltimer · 01-24-2008, 10:08 AM

I am one of those "cell phone for limited use only" people who has a pay-as-you-go plan that I charge up once a year. My current minutes available to use run upwards of 700. I love having the phone available to use if I truly need it but I rarely make a call unless it is of the two minute warning variety, "hey, I'm running late..." and it's even more rare for me to receive a call as I don't give out my cell number. Yet, I see other people in their cars with the cell phone at ear, mouths moving 90 to nothing, or I'm behind people in the checkout lanes with the bluetooth dongle plugging up their ears and their chatting with their unseen buddy all the while the cashier is attempting to complete a transaction with them. Is all this instant-on, constant communication really necessary?

I worked for years on the phone in customer service and grew to despise the sound of a ringing telephone. I wouldn't have a landline in my home if it were not required for my job. So who has dumped their landline for cell phone only service?

rstlne · 01-24-2008, 10:15 AM

Although I have a cell phone, I still keep a landline because it costs only 6 cents per minute to call overseas from the landline. It costs more to do that from the cell phone. However, I'm considering using a phone card through the cell phone as an alternative.

jkuo13 · 01-24-2008, 10:24 AM

Well, I dumped the landline in favor of a cell phone + VoIP phone combo. I don't think I can totally cut the cord on having some sort of landline equivalent in the house. My cell phone is prepaid to save me cash since I normally use it for short calls when I'm out and about. But both my fiancee and I use the VoIP phone quite a bit for calling friends and family. The unlimited minutes on the VoIP phone are quite essential for us.

jdp · 01-24-2008, 11:39 AM

...so I didn't vote.

Landline - local only, no features, old fashioned attached answering machine. Use calling cards for long distance, the very little I use.

Cell -Tracphone - again, went prepaid for the very little I use.

Hmmm, I sound like I don't like to talk to people. That isn't the case! lol

kav122 · 01-24-2008, 11:40 AM

my husband and I ONLY have cells, and that seems to work for us.

gt0163c · 01-24-2008, 12:12 PM

I'm landline only. No caller ID or call waiting. I even have a set number of outgoing calls I can make a month. I had to ask a couple of times to get this deal and then let the sales guy talk for a few minutes while I worked out the break-even point. I think it's something like 75 outgoing calls in a month. I've never even come close to that, so it saves me a few dollars a month.

I'm on the edge of getting a cell phone, mostly because they're incredibly convenient and because so many times people just assume that you have a phone and that they can change plans at will, figuring that they will be able to call you and work out a new plan. And that can be frustrating. But, even at that point, I don't know that I'll drop my landline. I'm not yet comfortable with the ability of GPS in phones to pinpoint where you are and, in the event of an emergency at home, I'm a lot more comfortable knowing that I can dial 911 from a home phone and emergency services will know exactly where I am.

Gootsy · 01-24-2008, 01:04 PM

just a landline for me. I've actually never owned a cell

. Did feel a huge urge to get a cell a few years ago, but not so much anymore.

Thew few instances I needed one, I just borrowed someone elses

.

Now the main reason I want a cell, is so I could get a cool ring tone. Just not worth it hehe.

jdp · 01-24-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gootsy

Now the main reason I want a cell, is so I could get a cool ring tone. Just not worth it hehe.

Um, <giggle>, I don't even know you but why did I just get a picture of you walking around with a little button sized ringtone player in your pocket pushing a button to hear the tone?

Gootsy · 01-24-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdp

Um, <giggle>, I don't even know you but why did I just get a picture of you walking around with a little button sized ringtone player in your pocket pushing a button to hear the tone?

Now there's something I haven't considered! But I dunno, that'd be a little too weird for me. I'd rather just whistle the ringtone I want to get, tyvm

.

rstlne · 01-24-2008, 02:12 PM

This has been a great discussion thread because once I thought about getting a phone card, I went and did a web search and found a phone card that calls the old country at a rate of 4 cents per minute with no monthly or per-call fees! I'll try getting a low-amount card from them first and if it works, I'll dump the landline and save $400 per year. Okay, now I'm not so mad at not getting the tax rebate.

View Poll Results: What is Your Phone Status?
Cell Phone Only	11	36.67%
Cell Phone and Landline	17	56.67%
Landline Only	2	6.67%
Phones? None for Me, Thanks!	0	0%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

01-24-2008, 10:08 AM	#1
rolltimer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 132 Reputation: (24)	Phone Status I am one of those "cell phone for limited use only" people who has a pay-as-you-go plan that I charge up once a year. My current minutes available to use run upwards of 700. I love having the phone available to use if I truly need it but I rarely make a call unless it is of the two minute warning variety, "hey, I'm running late..." and it's even more rare for me to receive a call as I don't give out my cell number. Yet, I see other people in their cars with the cell phone at ear, mouths moving 90 to nothing, or I'm behind people in the checkout lanes with the bluetooth dongle plugging up their ears and their chatting with their unseen buddy all the while the cashier is attempting to complete a transaction with them. Is all this instant-on, constant communication really necessary? I worked for years on the phone in customer service and grew to despise the sound of a ringing telephone. I wouldn't have a landline in my home if it were not required for my job. So who has dumped their landline for cell phone only service?

01-24-2008, 10:24 AM	#3
jkuo13 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 135 Reputation: (35)	Well, I dumped the landline in favor of a cell phone + VoIP phone combo. I don't think I can totally cut the cord on having some sort of landline equivalent in the house. My cell phone is prepaid to save me cash since I normally use it for short calls when I'm out and about. But both my fiancee and I use the VoIP phone quite a bit for calling friends and family. The unlimited minutes on the VoIP phone are quite essential for us. __________________ JohnnyKuo.net \|\| Zenfulness

01-24-2008, 11:39 AM	#4
jdp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 205 Reputation: (24)	I'm weird ...so I didn't vote. Landline - local only, no features, old fashioned attached answering machine. Use calling cards for long distance, the very little I use. Cell -Tracphone - again, went prepaid for the very little I use. Hmmm, I sound like I don't like to talk to people. That isn't the case! lol

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01-24-2008, 10:15 AM	#2
rstlne Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 364 Reputation: (115)	Although I have a cell phone, I still keep a landline because it costs only 6 cents per minute to call overseas from the landline. It costs more to do that from the cell phone. However, I'm considering using a phone card through the cell phone as an alternative.

01-24-2008, 11:40 AM	#5
kav122 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 510 Reputation: (238)	my husband and I ONLY have cells, and that seems to work for us.

01-24-2008, 12:12 PM	#6
gt0163c Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 250 Reputation: (33)	I'm landline only. No caller ID or call waiting. I even have a set number of outgoing calls I can make a month. I had to ask a couple of times to get this deal and then let the sales guy talk for a few minutes while I worked out the break-even point. I think it's something like 75 outgoing calls in a month. I've never even come close to that, so it saves me a few dollars a month. I'm on the edge of getting a cell phone, mostly because they're incredibly convenient and because so many times people just assume that you have a phone and that they can change plans at will, figuring that they will be able to call you and work out a new plan. And that can be frustrating. But, even at that point, I don't know that I'll drop my landline. I'm not yet comfortable with the ability of GPS in phones to pinpoint where you are and, in the event of an emergency at home, I'm a lot more comfortable knowing that I can dial 911 from a home phone and emergency services will know exactly where I am.

01-24-2008, 01:04 PM	#7
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 252 Reputation: (24)	just a landline for me. I've actually never owned a cell . Did feel a huge urge to get a cell a few years ago, but not so much anymore. Thew few instances I needed one, I just borrowed someone elses . Now the main reason I want a cell, is so I could get a cool ring tone. Just not worth it hehe.

01-24-2008, 02:12 PM	#10
rstlne Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 364 Reputation: (115)	This has been a great discussion thread because once I thought about getting a phone card, I went and did a web search and found a phone card that calls the old country at a rate of 4 cents per minute with no monthly or per-call fees! I'll try getting a low-amount card from them first and if it works, I'll dump the landline and save $400 per year. Okay, now I'm not so mad at not getting the tax rebate.