Among the many changes which seem to be coming our way at what seems to be an ever-increasing speed is likely going to be the demise of the good old fashioned telephone.
Most people I know have a land line and a cell phone - some more than one.
"Why keep the land line?" is a question more and more people (especially the younger folks) are asking with increased frequency - and they are deciding they don't need it (and its associated expense) after all.
A cell phone allows you to call anyone in the US and most companies don't even charge calls against your monthly minute allotment if you call people who use the same cell phone provider.
You say you call overseas?
I remember a few years back, calling friends and relatives overseas - the phone company charges were high and the conversations were typically brief - it was expensive after all.
More recently, third-party providers began offering overseas calling plans at a fraction of what the phone companies used to charge - and the calls got longer.
Then came VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) and companies like Vonage and Skype. Now you can make calls to anyone (in the case of Skype, they can even be video calls) and there is no need for a land line.
Even the phone in my office is now a VOIP variant. Calling colleagues in other parts of the world who are similarly equipped is a snap and the monthly bill is much lower.
The tagline from the Verizon (local land line, cell phone and internet provider) commercial echoes in my ears "...can you hear me now?"
(and if you can hear me, I wonder what kind of device you are using)
Most people I know have a land line and a cell phone - some more than one.
"Why keep the land line?" is a question more and more people (especially the younger folks) are asking with increased frequency - and they are deciding they don't need it (and its associated expense) after all.
A cell phone allows you to call anyone in the US and most companies don't even charge calls against your monthly minute allotment if you call people who use the same cell phone provider.
You say you call overseas?
I remember a few years back, calling friends and relatives overseas - the phone company charges were high and the conversations were typically brief - it was expensive after all.
More recently, third-party providers began offering overseas calling plans at a fraction of what the phone companies used to charge - and the calls got longer.
Then came VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) and companies like Vonage and Skype. Now you can make calls to anyone (in the case of Skype, they can even be video calls) and there is no need for a land line.
Even the phone in my office is now a VOIP variant. Calling colleagues in other parts of the world who are similarly equipped is a snap and the monthly bill is much lower.
The tagline from the Verizon (local land line, cell phone and internet provider) commercial echoes in my ears "...can you hear me now?"
(and if you can hear me, I wonder what kind of device you are using)
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