Although there are more reasons as to why it’s not worth keeping a landline service, the situation is not as black and white as you might think. So before cutting those copper wires, let’s pause for a moment and think: maybe those landline services are not as useless after all…
Why Cancel Your Landline?
There are two major reasons why customers prefer not having a landline service anymore, the restrictiveness of the technology and its pricing.
It’s clear to most that the technology isn’t likely to expand further anymore, less so the infrastructure, so let’s focus on the criticism of the prices – which might also be pretty self-explanatory. By paying for a landline you’re essentially paying just to place and receive calls – and that’s it. But by paying approximately the same price or a little bit more for a cell phone service you’ll gain access to the exact same services provided by landline companies, but with the added benefit of sending text messages and having access to the internet. Not to mention that if these services are part of a package deal, it’s possible to save even more – especially if unlimited domestic calls are also included.
And when considering that landline prices are comparable to the cost of leading VoIP service providers – not to mention the extras that these companies offer in their subscription plans – the difference is quite shocking.
Why Should You Not Cancel Your Landline?
It seems that there is no reason to keep landline services – so why, then, do experts keep telling us that cutting those ties would be a catastrophic idea? Believe it or not, there are multiple factors.
One such factor is reliability. Although cellular coverage is getting better with each passing year and internet speeds are finally on par with expectations, cell phone and VoIP calls are keen to signal dropping and unexpected malfunctions. Landlines, on the other hand, are more likely to remain available and provide the same quality for all calls – which is particularly handy when the power is out or there is an emergency.
Speaking of power outages, landlines can perfectly serve as a backup service should your internet or cell phone service falter. Not to mention that home security services still heavily rely on landline, meaning that if the cords are cut then you’ll be forced to switch to another home security service provider or change your devices to wireless ones – immediately spending the money you would have saved by ditching the landline.
That last point is especially important, since landline companies have realized they are losing lots of customers, and now offer their services for ridiculously low prices…
The Best Way of Moving to VoIP
Whether you wish to keep your old landline service or ditch it is completely up to you. If you choose to use landline and VoIP in tandem, it is best to switch to the cheapest landline service and forward all calls to your new VoIP number. As creating a cloud phone account with the assigned new number is easy, this solution is probably the most convenient in terms of use – however, this method still requires paying for two entirely different services, which is questionable from a financial point of view.
However, by going for a fully VoIP service you will need to port your numbers from your old provider to the new one. Thankfully the process is easy as your new service provider does the dirty job for you upon receiving your request, and it’s usually free of charge. Keep in mind, though, that number porting takes a significant amount of time (around seven business days) during which a temporary phone number will be assigned. In other words, it’s best to keep your landline service live until you are certain that your new phone service is up and running.
Last but not least, don’t forget to either purchase VoIP-compatible phones or use analog phone adapters; however, if you’d like to spare yourself from spending a fortune on new devices, it’s also possible to place and receive calls via the VoIP company’s mobile app or softphones.
Daniel C.
Sander D.
