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Trend to chuck land-line phone grows

Survey: More are ditching landlines

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By Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writer Updated 2:09 PM Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Boris Osipchuk dropped his six months ago.

Diana Hopkins ended hers so long ago she can’t remember exactly when.

They are among a growing number of people who have chosen to cut the cord of a traditional land-line telephone in favor of going exclusively wireless.

In a shift accelerated by the recession, the number of U.S. households opting for only cell phones has for the first time surpassed those that have just traditional landlines, according to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Twenty percent of households had only cell phones during the last half of 2008, compared with 17 percent with just landlines.

For Osipchuk, 33, of Mason, whose family came to the U.S. from the Ukraine in 1996, it seemed like “a waste of money” paying for both services.

He likes the convenience a cell phone offers, noting, “I can have it anywhere.”

That’s also the big appeal to Hopkins, 28, of Enon.

“And I only have to give people one phone number,” she said.

Hopkins, a Zales jewelry saleswoman at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, frequently encounters others in the cell phone-only crowd when she asks customers for their phone number and address.

“They have local addresses and long distance numbers. It’s pretty funny,” she said, noting many are in the military.

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I wholeheartedly support maintaining a landline for all residential homes. Unfortunately, it is a losing battle in Florida and the legislature is not on the side of consumers. I see it as a safety issue. Apparently, the legislature and governor view it as an issue to be decided by the telecommunications industry. For another take on this, visit http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/t... and http://www.telecompetitor.com/att-s...

Natalie
12:21 PM, 7/10/2009

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We're ready to get rid of our land line simply because we get no charity, survey or other annoying calls on our cell phones. I like the idea of a land line in case of power outage though.

Irish
2:38 PM, 5/26/2009

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hey opie, depending where the hardline grid is located fiber optic lines fail also. Something EVERYONE should know, many old cell phones will dial 911 even if the service is non active. this is how cell phones given to domestic violence victims work. we keep 3 old cell phones charged for our kids to use for 911 and in case of power outages. also keep a charger in all your automobiles.

Big Slick
11:54 AM, 5/26/2009

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I was tired of the erratic changes in my land-line bill. One month is was $25, then the next month is was $29. I didn't even have long distance, so how could it go up so much with the same service month-to-month? Now I at least have more control over my usage, plus free long distance.

Land Line Dropper
11:47 AM, 5/26/2009

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Remember, during a power outage, IP Phones and Cell Phones may not work.

opie
10:08 AM, 5/26/2009

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