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NewsIs it time to cut the cord?
Is it time to cut the cord?

Is it time to cut the cord?

It’s off the hook. 

Who in their wildest dreams would ever have predicted that the day would eventually come?

The day when we untangled ourselves from the curly cord, hung up, and said “goodbye” for the last time to the beloved home phone.

The concept itself is very hard the fathom.

After all, the house landline has been more like a “lifeline” for FiftyUps for many a decade.

Bob Dylan said it best, “the times they are a changin’”.

It is not a question of “will”, more a matter of “when” the landline phone will take its proud place in the museum of household history – along with its relatives the black and white TV and compact disc player.

That said, the eradication of the landline might be on hold for a little while longer yet according to Telco analysts.

Despite the fact that almost every Aussie now possesses a mobile phone (and we’re not just talking adults here), more than half of Australian homes are still paying for a landline hook up.

Is this you? If so – why?

Because you could be saving on an unnecessary monthly expense. And with the cost of living at an all time high - every outgoing dollar really does add up nowadays.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald report this week, 55 per cent of Australians still have a landline phone at home and only just over a quarter (29%) rely solely on their smartphones.

Of those Australians who still have a landline, a third concede that it's not really necessary and they're keeping it as a security blanket – 19 per cent say they never use it while a further 13 per cent keep it in case of emergencies.

Age demographics were a major influencer it seems – with Baby Boomers reporting the highest numbers of homeowners still to have a landline operational.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reported this week that Telstra is increasing the cost of landlines by $2-$3 a month, so they’re not even getting cheaper!

Which begs the question/s: How attached are you to your landline? Do you really need it? Is it worth the added cost?

Can’t answer?

Then maybe it’s time to dial D for Disconnect and just rely on a good, cheap mobile plan for both home and away.

Click here to see the new Special Offer on Mobile Plans for FiftyUp Club members with award-winning provider Vaya.

More info:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/telstra-to-slug-landline-customers-with-higher-fees/news-story/a1c686bf0cf0f0eb8cf8dc0ac6ced75d

 

 

Originally posted on .

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Mary
Mary from VIC commented:

I am keeping my landline as backup. I recently had problems with my mobile and the landline was invaluable. Also when power is out, you can't charge your mobile unless you plug it into your car and go for a drive. I am not looking forward to NBN when all goes via modem. How do we call emergency services when power is out? this can be a lifesaving problem and I have not seen any answers for a workaround. I am in a Unit so NBN does not install a backup battery as part of the standard installation as far as I am aware. 

Dana
Dana from QLD commented:

Mobile phone service @ Highfields outside Toowoomba is very poor if non-existent. During Cyclone Debbie people in its path discovered that when the power went off, so did the landline. Same here, power outage, no landline; something to do with NBN. We need to write the Emergency Service Ministers to explain what to do if one is older, no mobile phone or service and no landline! 

annette
annette from QLD commented:

Its OK if reception is good - but not where I live 70k's from the Sydney CBD. I have a marker up near the back shed where I need to stand if I want to use the mobile, otherwise forget it. Also need the landline for ADSL - not likely to have Broadband connected till 2020. 

Vicki
Vicki from WA commented:

We have a landline for internet only. When the powers out the landline phone doesn't work anyway so its not a backup 

Someone
Someone from WA commented:

I still have a landline because I can't get a good signal inside the house with my mobile phone. Most of the time I need to go outside to be able to make a phonecall on it or even to send a text message. It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm with Telstra or Vodafone. Elke from WA 

Pamela
Pamela from NSW commented:

What about where you don't get mobile service, your NBN fixed wireless is down or just like the power supply is out for 10 hours at a time for maintenance (so far this month NBN have advised about 70 hours downtime for maintenance and upgrade in my area) and then you have a bushfire - WHO/HOW DO YOU CALL!!! ... Australia 2017?????? 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Would love to get rid of phone, however, have to stay as we are running ADSL 1 plus, just a little quicker than dial up, and the NBN what a joke have been told we should get it around 2020. Mobile we have to find a spot in the house that gets a signal and that is with Telstra, Optus does not work here. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

We have a landline for internet connection only. We are in a grey area for wi-fi and use ADSL via a landline. T 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

If you want to switch to all mobile then Bendigo Bank have a great deal starting at about$10 per month. Much better than deals offered through this site! But as already said NBN gives you a quasi land line in the deal and the old landline is phased out when NBN arrives in your area anyway. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

You do not mention ADSL which requires a landline 

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