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NewsWhy 1 in 5 Australians have already ditched their home phone
Why 1 in 5 Australians have already ditched their home phone

Why 1 in 5 Australians have already ditched their home phone

Tags: Consumer Action Cost of Living
Last updated by Someone on

telephones-15841The home phone is fast becoming a thing of the past for many households with around 3.3 million Australians (that’s 19%) ditching the landline altogether and relying solely on mobile phones to stay in touch, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

If you have both a mobile phone and landline, you are paying for two connections when you probably only need one. This week we weigh up some pros and cons for ditching the landline and look at alternatives to see if you could save.

Weigh up Your Options
If you rarely use your landline, giving it the flick could save you money especially if you’re on a cheap mobile phone plan. But it’s important to work out how much it costs you before cancelling altogether.

Cutting the landline could also stop unsolicited telemarketers and scammers.

On the other hand, if you use your home phone regularly, and reliability is important to you, it may make sense to keep the landline.

Mobile phone coverage isn’t always reliable. Personally, I’ve gone back to calling my parents on their landline as they have terrible mobile reception.

If you have a fax machine or back-to-base-alarm, you’ll also need a landline.

What about my broadband Connection?
For a lot of households the only reason they have a landline is to get Internet connection.

But with ‘Naked Broadband’ you can get the Internet without a phone line and can avoid line rental costs too.

If I keep my landline, how can I save?
VoIP – Whether you have a landline or not, ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ technology could save you money. VoIP allows those with reliable Internet connection to make phone calls using the Internet. VoIP calls can be significantly cheaper than landline calls. We’ve written about these extensive options, including Skype, Viber & WhatsApp here so be sure to have a read

Shop around - Seems obvious, but make sure you’re on the best plan available to your needs. If you rarely use your landline, but still want to keep it, consider ditching some of your extras. Whether it’s call-waiting or caller-ID, extras can add a lot to any phone plan.

Originally posted on .

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Why 1 in 5 Australians have already ditched their home phone

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Jennifer
Jennifer from VIC commented:

I will not ever consider losing the landline while I have parents alive. I have had a mobile for 20 years and they have called me on it maybe 3 times but my mother rings my landline at least once a week - an important aspect given she lives 1700kms away. The speakerphone, answering machine capability, low cost long distance, more reliable reception under a steel roof, cheaper internet, bigger easier to see dialpad and screen etc. Do we need more reasons? 

Ronald
Ronald from QLD commented:

Definately the land line is a thing of the past ! 

Julie
Julie from QLD commented:

no because elderly people find it hard /impossible to use mobile phones 

john
john from NSW commented:

I need my landline to get a 'reliable' internet. The deal I have costs me the line rental, but all local/national calls are free and I have Caller ID to screen unwanted calls. Yes, I do have a mobile - on a $20 plan its quite limited - but calls are expensive, and it costs me to call you when you are on a mobile only. So think about it. But I do like the idea of ridding me of those pesky characters wanting money at dinner time. 

Noelene
Noelene from QLD commented:

I've just ditched my land line!! Have a great mobile plan with telstra, without going into details, this is one option I have FREE calls after 7pm to 7 am AND free calls all weekend to any phone ! How good is that my plan also includes data & I'm paying $70 pm 

sandra
sandra from QLD commented:

I think it is a bit hard on people ringing those with only a mobile phone as it cost's me so much to ring them a bit unfair on the caller may be cheaper for them but not me S 

Catherine
Catherine from QLD commented:

I make regular overseas call to family and friends in UK. On the mobile it would cost $1.00 a min. On the landline it's 2 cents a min. I'm keeping the landline!! 

Brian and Margaret
Brian and Margaret from NSW commented:

I use my mobile phone for emergency calls only, and operate this phone on user pay only, NO PLANS ( REAL MONEY SUCKERS.)My land line is acceptable for my limited calls, again a user pay system, total cost per quarter $60.00. My mobile is not a fashion accessory. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Landline is becoming too expensive, would not get rid of it at the moment. My friends and I chat for long periods and having them phone me on a mobile number would be too expensive for them. Am considering switching from Telstra to another much more affordable provider. 

Caryn
Caryn from VIC commented:

No for a couple of reasons. When you phone a call centre you can be on hold for up to an hour which makes a call from a mobile prohibitively expensive. Also when you are older and live alone sometimes the only contact you have with other people is via a phone call and, if that call is made from a mobile, it can be too expensive to talk for more than a couple of minutes. My calls to friends can sometimes be an hour or more long! 

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