Comments on: Landlines: Artifact of the 20th century? http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:55:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: contentious.com - VOIP telephony: Getting frustrating http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1207684 contentious.com - VOIP telephony: Getting frustrating Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:38:02 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1207684 [...] couple of months ago I signed up for an internet-based (VOIP) phone service called VOIPyourlife. I’d growing increasingly [...] [...] couple of months ago I signed up for an internet-based (VOIP) phone service called VOIPyourlife. I’d growing increasingly [...]

]]> By: Steve Sergeant http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206116 Steve Sergeant Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:42:32 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206116 I'm constantly frustrated in trying to do a quality radio show and podcast that so few people have ready access to land-lines. All of the other options for remote interviews, such as cell phones or VOIP, have drastically poorer sound quality some or all of the time. I've never recorded an interview where the remote party is on a cell phone and found the quality adequately clear after the MP3 compression and then listening in noisy environments like a car, train, or plane. I also have a cell phone and use it daily, but when I want to have a more relaxed conversation with somebody, you can't beat land-lines for reliably good audio quality and lack of annoying time delay. That is, if both parties are using good-quality wired phones, and not these junky cordless ones that seem to be mostly all you can buy at consumer outlets. I'll also echo the other poster who said that wired phones are a much simpler technology which are more likely to work during some widespread emergency. Earthquakes or fires here in California, for example. I’m constantly frustrated in trying to do a quality radio show and podcast that so few people have ready access to land-lines. All of the other options for remote interviews, such as cell phones or VOIP, have drastically poorer sound quality some or all of the time. I’ve never recorded an interview where the remote party is on a cell phone and found the quality adequately clear after the MP3 compression and then listening in noisy environments like a car, train, or plane.

I also have a cell phone and use it daily, but when I want to have a more relaxed conversation with somebody, you can’t beat land-lines for reliably good audio quality and lack of annoying time delay. That is, if both parties are using good-quality wired phones, and not these junky cordless ones that seem to be mostly all you can buy at consumer outlets.

I’ll also echo the other poster who said that wired phones are a much simpler technology which are more likely to work during some widespread emergency. Earthquakes or fires here in California, for example.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206109 Lynn Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:41:51 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206109 I live about 20 miles from NYC and still remember the way the cellphone system crashed on 9/11. While I moved my main home phone line to a cable modem over the summer, I still have a second line run through the local phone company. It costs me about $40/month (gross)/$25 (net over what it would cost to add that line to my cable phone) to keep that second line, but I don't mind paying that relatively small cost for the added security. My cable phone has an 8-hour battery backup, but we have had storm-related power outages in my area that have been longer than that. Maybe it's a generational thing (I'm 49). I live about 20 miles from NYC and still remember the way the cellphone system crashed on 9/11. While I moved my main home phone line to a cable modem over the summer, I still have a second line run through the local phone company. It costs me about $40/month (gross)/$25 (net over what it would cost to add that line to my cable phone) to keep that second line, but I don’t mind paying that relatively small cost for the added security. My cable phone has an 8-hour battery backup, but we have had storm-related power outages in my area that have been longer than that. Maybe it’s a generational thing (I’m 49).

]]> By: CB http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206102 CB Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:19:18 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206102 Amy, I'm with Matti here, unsurprisingly, since I also live in Finland. My freelance business is run entirely on my PC and by mobile phone. My wife's parents gave their landline up years ago and switched to mobile. Th big factor here, on top of the prohibitive cost of landlines, is the extremely cheap mobile call and line rental rates - I don't know how it compares to the US, but average per month line rental on mobile here is less than €1 and call rates average about 0.069 € per min. I too will switch to VoIP once I have a reliable VoIP 'mobile' phone that I don't need my PC switched on to use! Amy, I’m with Matti here, unsurprisingly, since I also live in Finland. My freelance business is run entirely on my PC and by mobile phone. My wife’s parents gave their landline up years ago and switched to mobile. Th big factor here, on top of the prohibitive cost of landlines, is the extremely cheap mobile call and line rental rates - I don’t know how it compares to the US, but average per month line rental on mobile here is less than €1 and call rates average about 0.069 € per min.

I too will switch to VoIP once I have a reliable VoIP ‘mobile’ phone that I don’t need my PC switched on to use!

]]> By: Average Jane http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206096 Average Jane Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:47:46 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206096 My husband and I (ages 50 and 40, respectively) switched over to VOIP about two years ago. We almost never answer our land line; we really only have it for our alarm system, our TiVo, and occasional outgoing calls. My husband and I (ages 50 and 40, respectively) switched over to VOIP about two years ago. We almost never answer our land line; we really only have it for our alarm system, our TiVo, and occasional outgoing calls.

]]> By: Matti Lintulahti http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206095 Matti Lintulahti Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:22:08 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206095 I know, but i´m sure you will follow, because technology is matured and people has need for it, so operator business, even how stupid they are, will get it sooner or later. I know, but i´m sure you will follow, because technology is matured and people has need for it, so operator business, even how stupid they are, will get it sooner or later.

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206094 Amy Gahran Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:03:38 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206094 Thanks, Matti. Yeah, one thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the rest of the world is far ahead of the US in terms of mobile technology. - Amy Gahran Thanks, Matti. Yeah, one thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the rest of the world is far ahead of the US in terms of mobile technology.

- Amy Gahran

]]> By: Matti Lintulahti http://www.contentious.com/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206093 Matti Lintulahti Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:58:54 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/10/22/landlines-artifact-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1206093 I´m sure you will follow this trend, which in Finland, where I live, has happened years ago. I have given up landlines around 2000 and since live with mobiles and broadband. Of course almost every kid has their own mobile phone. And age do not matter any more. My parents retired three years ago and at the same time gave up landlines which was useless when they were happy mobile phone users. Welcome to the future. I´m sure you will follow this trend, which in Finland, where I live, has happened years ago. I have given up landlines around 2000 and since live with mobiles and broadband. Of course almost every kid has their own mobile phone. And age do not matter any more. My parents retired three years ago and at the same time gave up landlines which was useless when they were happy mobile phone users. Welcome to the future.

]]>