Cell phone as primary phone?

Hookset · 10-20-2006, 10:56 PM

I'm thinking about giving up my regular QWest phone coverage and use only the cell phone for everything. I have the nationwide call plan and never go over my limit, plus with Cingular, I have roll over minutes.

So why would I need to have 2 phone services?

Is there any reason to still carry a home phone service?

Right now, I can't think of any reason to keep Qwest so why spend the extra money.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Gregg

Ryan Pultz · 10-20-2006, 11:03 PM

it is a good deal as long as your phone does not break a few people I know have a back up phone just for that resin rp

PullShootExplode · 10-21-2006, 06:35 AM

I got rid of the land line in 1996. I think that having a cell is more cost efficeint and easier at least for me. I can call family and friends all over the country and never go over my minutes. It hasn't been a problem in the 10 yrs.

Corkie Monster · 10-21-2006, 06:53 AM

I've been doing it for four years now. No problems here. My wife and I both hate the phone companies.

CM

STGRule · 10-21-2006, 07:10 AM

We did it years ago and never looked back. The only reason I can see for a land line is if you have TiVo.

Wang · 10-21-2006, 08:31 AM

I really have no reason to have a home phone. I have tried it a couple times in the last few years and cancel it in a month or two. I rarely used it. The only time I was glad I had a home phone or dreaded when all I had was a cell phone, was when a business put me on hold for long periods of time. This did create going over with my minutes a few times. I swtiched to Verizon and going over was never an issue again as just about everybody I talked to had Verizon so the minutes didn't count.

Just make sure you have really good cell coverage in your home before you cancel the home phone.

IDWITHELD · 10-21-2006, 09:21 AM

I just got rid of my land line last month.
Why oh why did I wait so long to do this?

Bugle4em · 10-21-2006, 12:49 PM

We got rid of our land line awhile back, but after needing to send faxes, we opted for the basic phone service. I also like having the second phone line with just in case.

Snakebite · 10-21-2006, 12:53 PM

In the event of an emergency, which would be more reliable?

diamondfish · 10-21-2006, 06:51 PM

I use Vonage for my home phone, low cost and no tax. I use the forwarding feature to route my home phone calls to my cell phone. I will never have a traditional land line again. They have too many fees and taxes for what little use I would actually use. Ma Bell is no longer she needs to step asied and give way to the new.

pah · 10-21-2006, 07:04 PM

With out a land line I would not have the Internet or ifish and a fax line.

MrOlearhy · 10-21-2006, 07:28 PM

I've been trying to talk the wife into going wireless only for a bit now. She says no because of the kid. As soon as the kid is gone the phone is gone. I hate to answer the thing in the first place and a call is for me about 1 in 100.

InBassPursuit · 10-22-2006, 07:09 AM

How can you use the internet from a cell phone. I thought you had to have a land line to get "on line".

STGRule · 10-22-2006, 07:12 AM

Only if you have DSL or Dialup. If you have cable internet you don't need a land line and can drop it for just cell.

Just_learning · 10-22-2006, 10:30 AM

Been doing it for the last 6 years. As far as internet goes, I just talked to one of my new neighbors out here in Philly, she lets me split her internet bill, and gives me access to her connection via my router. Works great for both of us. Cell phone is the way to go, and today, how often are you really home and want to be bothered when at night you can just turn off your cell phone ringer.

jokester · 10-22-2006, 10:35 AM

IMO...the only reason to have a land line is if you fax, have dial-up, or DSL. Other than that, you really don't need it.

Been cell-phone only for 2 years now and have never once had a need for the land line after getting rid of it.

-jokester

StickFish · 10-23-2006, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakebite

In the event of an emergency, which would be more reliable?

Both services eventually use the same Public Switched Network. If there are outages - it can effect both Cell and traditional land/line VOIP connections.

back during the big storms of 94 and 96, ham radio operators assisted all the fire stations in the metro area keeping some kind of emergency communications up and running. During the huricanes and other big storms when the power is out, the hams are the only ones still on the air and are usually providing the first line of communications during some of these disasters

angler_andy · 10-23-2006, 07:18 AM

The only other reason to have a land line is teenagers.

fishboys · 10-23-2006, 08:18 AM

Bingo AA hit it on the head for me, my son has just found that girls are pretty cool and some of them don't have cooties. Hours on end with his girlfriends would kill my cell bill. And I am in the stone age with dsl, how much more is a cable connection vs dsl?

Flying Roast Beef · 10-23-2006, 12:18 PM

The only reason I have a landline is for 911. That and a couple of elderly relatives that cannot seem to convert their presets to my cell number but hey, bless them for that. I canceled long distance years ago. My cell works just fine for that.

Tilla · 10-24-2006, 06:01 AM

Qwest just quoted me Phone with unlimited long distance, DSL high speed internet, 155 channel Direct TV for about $90/mo.
Anyone do this?
Our 180 TV channel Dish is $89! Comcast is $52........

Chromaflage · 10-24-2006, 07:14 AM

Tilla - how long will they gaurantee that rate?

MacFish · 10-24-2006, 02:31 PM

A land line makes it easier for people to find and contact you. If it's a long lost friend or the attorney for a recently departed rich uncle, it's a good thing, if it's a telemarketer or politician it's not.

Tilla · 10-24-2006, 08:35 PM

C-flage, they didn't claim a time limit, but I will look into it.