Shutting off my home phone....

**ama** · 02-08-2007, 08:33 PM

I've finally decided to take the plunge. We hardly use the house phone at all. We all have cell phones and a good family plan. My only hold-up was that I had DSL internet and required a phone line. Now that my contract with them is nearly up I'll def be shutting off SBC phone/net and switching to cable. Savings will be about $40 a month. It would have been more but I took my phone down to very basic service awhile back. Big savings there!

**Edna_E** · 02-08-2007, 08:35 PM

Been there for about 4 years now. No regrets.

**jenloveschip2001** · 02-08-2007, 08:36 PM

Good for you. I know lots of people that just use there cell phones instead of having a home phone. Smart move!!!

**kaykwilts** · 02-08-2007, 08:42 PM

Forty dollars spread off 12 months equals to a lot of money. Good for you for making the plunge.

**acidcookie** · 02-08-2007, 09:03 PM

I haven't had a home phone for years. Bet ya won't even miss it.

**Palooka** · 02-08-2007, 09:05 PM

I am thinking about doing this also when the dsl contract is up. I think our cable is rather high here. I need to see if it will be worth the dollars. I know lots of people that use just their cell.

**Scattymum** · 02-09-2007, 04:06 AM

Ive been thinking about that alot too - I hardly ever use the home phone - i make alot of phone from the comp using skype. I got my phone bill yesterday and most of it was line rental and other charges rather than phone calls!
well done on making the decision and saving so much a month!

**autumnlynn** · 02-09-2007, 04:13 AM

I did it awhile back and never have missed a landline.

**Buckeye5** · 02-09-2007, 09:02 AM

We can't do that because we have no cell service where i live in the rural area. I am jealous, that is a $480.00 per year savings!! SWEET!!

**MandaRenee** · 02-09-2007, 10:29 AM

We don't have a landline either. Dh and I just use cell phones since we're not really home much anyway!

**Darlene** · 02-09-2007, 11:05 AM

Were thinking about doing it, just last week we finally got coverage. Before that you could only go stand in one spot in the driveway to talk,lol. Not sure what happened but now have 2, sometimes 3 bars anywhere in the house. yeah!

**Hollyhandi** · 02-09-2007, 11:09 AM

he just hooked us up with phone,internet and dish network so we'll keep it 2 years anyhow. Then hopefully move with just cell phones

**tulipgraham** · 02-09-2007, 12:11 PM

I am going to be the rebel here..lol...Can you still call 911 if you don’t have regular phone service?

I have realized the value of having a non-cordless, land lined phone after living through 9/11, the blackout, etc...Thankfully, Alberta doesn't have many disasters

, but it still freaks me out.

**suzysaver** · 02-09-2007, 12:17 PM

Do you still get high speed internet service with cable?? I never understood how all that works.

**MTS04** · 02-12-2007, 12:50 AM

ok folks, I am going to chime in, only because of what I do. If you go to a cell phone only household, be aware, that when you dial 911 from your cell phone, you will get a statewide or sometimes county 911 dispatch. The "Bells" do not govern cell phone laws, the FCC does. The only requirement the FCC has is that any cell phone whether under a provider or deactivated (no sim card etc) can still dial 911 and will give the tower that the cell phone has hit off of. Therefore be aware that if you are unable to speak or have an issue where you can not speak (someone has broken in and you are hiding in a closet, domestic violence and you drop the phone) the 911 operator will NOT know where you are.
If your account is a pre paid or card style account (convenience store minutes) your information is not associated with your phone. Therefore even calling for a subscriber request on the phone will not result in your information. If you sign up with a company, be sure to give accurate address and contact information. This is essential, should you not be able to speak, the dispatch center can call your provider for your information. The dispatch center will get the information anywhere within a time frame of 2 minutes and up to 12 hours (big window there). The reason for the large gap, is that there is no law regarding the access to this information in emergent situations. Some cell providers legal compliance teams only have 9-5 office hours and no one on call.

Even with the instution of Phase I and II information, the accuracy is not always there. Yes, phaseII may get the info on your street, maybe even within a house or 2 of yours, but it is not as exact as having your home phone giving the ALI location to your local dispatcher. So there may be a delay in response of emergency services.

Ok, public safety message is over.