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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?

Tags: Telco & Broadband
Last updated by Heath Davis on

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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Beverley
Beverley from QLD commented:

I have good internet access via my landline. What are the alternatives? Dougie 

michael
michael from NSW commented:

I have a number of handsets through the house which means I don't have to worry where my phone is and the answering machine monitors the calls for me. I only use it for incoming calls and with Telstra on the NBN it's automatically included as part of the package. 

Someone
Someone from WA commented:

Know the comments are about the landline.Once NBN is in your area you will have a modem and all goes through this,I have a monitored alarm system and will have to pay $299.00 to have this upgraded and as someone else commented In a power outage You have NO PHONE 

Garry
Garry from QLD commented:

All sounds fine, but what if where you live there is insufficient coverage by mobile phone companies (there appears to be no incentive for it to improve) - I do, so what is the alternative? I certainly have a Mobile Phone and use it regularly, but not at Home. Don't start me on Internet access either or lack of. Garry 

Colin
Colin from NSW commented:

Like others in this forum, I need the landline for Internet. Speed of it through my mobile is too low and I use a computer. So need the landline/ 

Mark
Mark from VIC commented:

My monitored alarm system also uses the telephone line?? 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

What about the NBN and VOIP. Trouble with the NBN Is, If the power goes off, so does the phone, unless youve gone to the trouble of having a battery Installed at extra costs. Most NBN Providers dont supply this service. This was not a problem with the good old faithful Landline, which worked rain, hail or snow, unlike mobiles or VOIP. Also today with the NBN even older people have to now have a modem to use their VOIP phone plus many have problems with eyesight and cant see the numbers on a mobile. I still prefer copper wire and a landline for reliability, but Its very hard to get or keep today. 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

Whilst it is a good idea to replace the home telephone with a mobile telephone, the mobile will only work where there is service. Despite what the telco's tell you about their mobile service, there is a lot of Australia that has no mobile service, and this area is served by landline. The other problem I have encountered is that dropping the home telephone from my combined home telephone/broadband bundle will not save me any money on a new broadband only service with my supplier. The monthly charge is the same regardless. So I am keeping the home telephone at this stage. 

Grace
Grace from QLD commented:

I keep my landline because I have hearing problems and the sound of my mobile is often so bad that I just cannot hear it (even when I have it on speaker phone). I have a deal with Optus where I pay $10 a month extra and can make all calls to mobiles for free. I also find that my ear and side of my head get very hot and even painful when I use my mobile for a longer conversation. As I said, speaker phone is not loud enough.I will hold on to my landline and my old Panasonic fax/phone machine as it has a good speaker phone function which is also very good when on hold. I can work on my computer while waiting. 

Antonio
Antonio from NSW commented:

I have to keep my landline because there is no naked ADSL nor NBN in my area. I don't have a choice to ditch it unless I don't need Internet at the same time. 

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