Comments on: Cutting the Cord: An Update http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:28:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: DailyWireless » Blog Archive » Wednesday Links: No More Landlines? http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876481 DailyWireless » Blog Archive » Wednesday Links: No More Landlines? Fri, 02 May 2008 02:14:00 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876481 [...] Is cutting the landline in favor of exclusive cell phone usage feasible? One Gigaom writer found out that it isn’t in her case. Read about her experience here. [...] [...] Is cutting the landline in favor of exclusive cell phone usage feasible? One Gigaom writer found out that it isn’t in her case. Read about her experience here. [...]

]]> By: jonny http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876297 jonny Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:02:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876297 I've been pondering cutting the cord too but I want to keep my landline number. One solution is to port it to a cell phone which for me will only add $10 to my family plan (at&t mobility). Saving $30+ a month. Only issue is that mine or the wife's cell phone is NEVER close enough for to answer before going to voicemail. It's upstairs, I'm downstairs. It's in the car, she doesn't hear it...and so on. So I've also been looking into cellular to landline gateways so is to use my existing landline cordless phones. XLink Gateway is one that I'm researching into buying. But this doesn't address any 911 issues since emergency calls are handled differently originating from cell or landline. Food for thought. I’ve been pondering cutting the cord too but I want to keep my landline number. One solution is to port it to a cell phone which for me will only add $10 to my family plan (at&t mobility). Saving $30+ a month. Only issue is that mine or the wife’s cell phone is NEVER close enough for to answer before going to voicemail. It’s upstairs, I’m downstairs. It’s in the car, she doesn’t hear it…and so on. So I’ve also been looking into cellular to landline gateways so is to use my existing landline cordless phones. XLink Gateway is one that I’m researching into buying.

But this doesn’t address any 911 issues since emergency calls are handled differently originating from cell or landline.

Food for thought.

]]> By: Justin Flood http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876279 Justin Flood Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:09:08 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876279 I have Cablevision's Triple Play in NY. So I guess I technically have a land line, though the only person to have ever called it was a telemarketer. I've been cellphone only since I got my cellphone. I think it's just a condition of my generation (I'm 26). We've grown up using cellphones and we have moved away from using landlines. I can't imagine that landlines will really be a viable business come 20 years from now, but like everything else, it's a slow uptake. I have Cablevision’s Triple Play in NY. So I guess I technically have a land line, though the only person to have ever called it was a telemarketer.

I’ve been cellphone only since I got my cellphone. I think it’s just a condition of my generation (I’m 26). We’ve grown up using cellphones and we have moved away from using landlines. I can’t imagine that landlines will really be a viable business come 20 years from now, but like everything else, it’s a slow uptake.

]]> By: Noel http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876213 Noel Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:58:54 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876213 Many folks here in San Diego ditched their landlines and it almost cost them their lives back in October of 2007 when we had the firestorm. In San Diego county we have a reverse 911 system and it dialed thousands of people at 4AM to let them know the fire was approaching. Folks without a landline had no idea the fire was coming. When I went to bed at around 10am it was 30 miles away and by morning was I was being evacuated. Check with your county to register your cell phone so it can be included in the reverse 911 if your county has one. Here's the original blog post: http://vocio.com/telecom_expense_management_blog/tabid/52935/bid/2602/San-Diego-Firestorm-and-Reverse-911.aspx Many folks here in San Diego ditched their landlines and it almost cost them their lives back in October of 2007 when we had the firestorm. In San Diego county we have a reverse 911 system and it dialed thousands of people at 4AM to let them know the fire was approaching. Folks without a landline had no idea the fire was coming. When I went to bed at around 10am it was 30 miles away and by morning was I was being evacuated. Check with your county to register your cell phone so it can be included in the reverse 911 if your county has one. Here’s the original blog post: http://vocio.com/telecom_expense_management_blog/tabid/52935/bid/2602/San-Diego-Firestorm-and-Reverse-911.aspx

]]> By: austinandrew http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876209 austinandrew Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:50:04 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876209 Of course, do you remember what happened in NYC when all of the power went out? The landlines worked, the mobiles did not because the cellular system was all jammed up. Of course, do you remember what happened in NYC when all of the power went out? The landlines worked, the mobiles did not because the cellular system was all jammed up.

]]> By: Gary http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876192 Gary Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:59:26 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876192 Stacey: I use stimobile.com, very cheap. $3 monthly fee to maintain it, 10 cents to call. Stacey: I use stimobile.com, very cheap. $3 monthly fee to maintain it, 10 cents to call.

]]> By: Stacey Higginbotham http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876173 Stacey Higginbotham Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:16:52 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876173 I'm diggin' the pre-paid cell phone idea. I'll have to run it by my mother-in-law, but maybe that would work. Alex I view my phone as a service, not an investment. But it still hurts to spend $240 a year. I’m diggin’ the pre-paid cell phone idea. I’ll have to run it by my mother-in-law, but maybe that would work. Alex I view my phone as a service, not an investment. But it still hurts to spend $240 a year.

]]> By: matt http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876172 matt Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:56:35 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876172 I use a landline for strictly E911. No sense in having the 911 operator trying to ask you where you are, plus I've noticed cell phones in this area route to the city next door (Bellevue) so you have to wait to get transferred to the proper 911 in Seattle. -matt I use a landline for strictly E911. No sense in having the 911 operator trying to ask you where you are, plus I’ve noticed cell phones in this area route to the city next door (Bellevue) so you have to wait to get transferred to the proper 911 in Seattle.

-matt

]]> By: mc http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876168 mc Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:52:41 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876168 We have been landline-free for over five years. We have n people in the house and n+1 cellphones on a family plan. The extra phone sits in a cradle that Nokia used to make that combines a charger with powered speakers. So we always know where at least one phone is, it's always charged, and it functions nicely as a speakerphone. Plus, we always have a spare cellphone for a babysitter or out of town guests. We have been landline-free for over five years. We have n people in the house and n+1 cellphones on a family plan. The extra phone sits in a cradle that Nokia used to make that combines a charger with powered speakers. So we always know where at least one phone is, it’s always charged, and it functions nicely as a speakerphone. Plus, we always have a spare cellphone for a babysitter or out of town guests.

]]> By: Alex Rootham http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876165 Alex Rootham Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:39:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876165 To earn $20 a month from an investment that returns 5%, you'd need to invest $4800. There's lots of things you can do with $4800 no? Might I suggest: a) buy another charger for your mother-in-law and leave it at your house or b) When you and your husband go out together, leave one of your cellphones at home or c) Buy the cheapest pre-paid cellphone you can find (is that still more than $20?) To earn $20 a month from an investment that returns 5%, you’d need to invest $4800. There’s lots of things you can do with $4800 no?

Might I suggest:
a) buy another charger for your mother-in-law and leave it at your house
or
b) When you and your husband go out together, leave one of your cellphones at home
or
c) Buy the cheapest pre-paid cellphone you can find (is that still more than $20?)

]]> By: George http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876164 George Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:35:11 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876164 In Los Angeles, cellphone 911 goes to California Highway Patrol and the wait can be 15 minutes. ALthough I've heard land-based 911 isn't much faster. In Los Angeles, cellphone 911 goes to California Highway Patrol and the wait can be 15 minutes. ALthough I’ve heard land-based 911 isn’t much faster.

]]> By: Rudolf http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876158 Rudolf Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:01:23 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876158 huuh, why dump the land line? You can't get broadband without the land line and telephony is included in the broadband charge, so why bother. Plus the costs of a mobile phone are prohibitively expensive and you're running up the costs for everyone who wants to call you. Oh wait, you live in the US. Where broadband is expensive and doesn't include many of the standard things we have in the EU, but where mobile calls now can have unlimited calling and data usage, which results in americans using their mobiles 5-10 times more than in the EU. I wonna live in Singapore, where mobile phones are cheap, fibre is rolled out everywhere and there is no gum on the street. huuh, why dump the land line? You can’t get broadband without the land line and telephony is included in the broadband charge, so why bother. Plus the costs of a mobile phone are prohibitively expensive and you’re running up the costs for everyone who wants to call you.

Oh wait, you live in the US. Where broadband is expensive and doesn’t include many of the standard things we have in the EU, but where mobile calls now can have unlimited calling and data usage, which results in americans using their mobiles 5-10 times more than in the EU.

I wonna live in Singapore, where mobile phones are cheap, fibre is rolled out everywhere and there is no gum on the street.

]]> By: Travis http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876153 Travis Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:21:52 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876153 I had a similar situation in that my wife wanted to ditch the landline. We have 3 young children (all under 5). Our oldest is now able to dial 911 - we know this from experience... :) My concern was if one of us were traveling and something happened to the other parent watching the kids, would our kids be able to find our cell phone if it was in our coat pocket or we forgot it in the car? The other option is to leave a phone plugged in because even if you don't have service, you are supposed to be able to call 911. I had a similar situation in that my wife wanted to ditch the landline. We have 3 young children (all under 5). Our oldest is now able to dial 911 - we know this from experience… :) My concern was if one of us were traveling and something happened to the other parent watching the kids, would our kids be able to find our cell phone if it was in our coat pocket or we forgot it in the car?

The other option is to leave a phone plugged in because even if you don’t have service, you are supposed to be able to call 911.

]]> By: David Mullings http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876143 David Mullings Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:05:13 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876143 Good point. I currently don't have a land line, and don't miss it, but then I don't have kids either and my entire family has AT&T cellphones. It just goes to show that each person needs to make a choice based on their individual situation, not because lots of people are doing the same thing (case in point: getting rid of cable and relying on the net and DVDs). Good point. I currently don’t have a land line, and don’t miss it, but then I don’t have kids either and my entire family has AT&T cellphones. It just goes to show that each person needs to make a choice based on their individual situation, not because lots of people are doing the same thing (case in point: getting rid of cable and relying on the net and DVDs).

]]> By: gary http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876142 gary Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:02:24 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876142 Get a prepaid cell and put it in house. Get a prepaid cell and put it in house.

]]> By: fatherof2 http://gigaom.com/2008/04/29/cutting-the-cord-an-update/#comment-876141 fatherof2 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:53:38 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13229#comment-876141 I pay Comcast monthly for the exact same reason. Couldn't live with myself if there was an emergency and the babysitter had no way to call. I pay Comcast monthly for the exact same reason. Couldn’t live with myself if there was an emergency and the babysitter had no way to call.

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