Comments on: AT&T Will Scare You Into Keeping Your Landline

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:55:28 +0000

Regarding the young boy that dialed 911 to save his family in LA:

I bet the family had a LANDLINE – otherwise
1) the call would NOT have gotten through as fast
2) the dispatcher would NOT know the address of the child
Think about that when you wanna save a buck and get rid of your landline

By: Broadband Isn’t Just the Web — It’s Our Future

Broadband Isn’t Just the Web — It’s Our Future — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:40:44 +0000

[...] in much the same way that copper wires and phones linked the U.S. during the last century. We may look down on that network now, but millions of Americans still use it and it’s served as the foundation upon which the web [...]

By: Landluber

Landluber — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:22:46 +0000

sounds like AT&T uses the same call center techniques that En terprise car rental uses. Threaten your employees until they are so scared they will screw the customer or quit. Im sure they have the revolving door employee policy as well with a steady stream of new hires replaces hundreds of employees who walk or get fired every month.

By: Nathan Parker

Nathan Parker — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:50:38 +0000

I agree that a landline is truly a lifeline. While I enjoy using my iPhone, it’s good to know I have a landline there when I need it. Nothing comes close to it in terms of reliability and quality. VOIP’s just haven’t caught up enough yet. Although I’m questioning AT&T’s comment about the FAX line. Last time I read their TOS, they strictly said that a facsimile (aka FAX) was prohibited over residential (aka home) landlines. Has this changed? I gave away my FAX machine due to the fact I didn’t think I could use it anymore. This would be a pleasant and welcome surprise, although I’m moving to an area that’s serviced by Windstream before too long, and I know they allow faxing over residential lines.

Bottom line. Always keep a landline. Because your landline is your lifeline.

By: mz

mz — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:07:02 +0000

The problem with this is that even if your landline is still working, the person your trying to call probably has a cell phone. So either way your shit out of luck.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:05:59 +0000

Even cordless landline phones emit radiation, so you are getting the same negative effect if you use anything other than a corded phone.

I’m sure there are some negative health side effects to the radiation from cell phones. But I’d be willing to bet you are far more exposed by going to the dentist (X-rays), visiting a coffee shop that has WiFi, watching TV, sitting in front of a computer, using a microwave oven, living within four miles of high voltage power lines, or myriad other events. The only true way to protect yourself is to stop living.

So, in comparison, the danger from cell phones seems negligible — unless you’re on it constantly.

By: Doug Mohney

Doug Mohney — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:27:24 +0000

WAKE UP PEOPLE, WAKE UP!

Landline repair and quality of service has gone downhill and the media has slept on it; even the guys who should cover it on a regular basis.

My Verizon wireline went down on Monday. Initial response was “We’ll be out no later than 7 days from now…”

WTF? Seriously, WTF? For you kids in love with your cell phones, this might seem business as usual; for us more intimately involved with the telecommunications industry over the past 15-17 years, this is OUTRAGEOUS. Back in the “old days” and still mandated by Virginia’s PUC, you had to get 95 percent of problems resolved in 48 hours.

I got annoyed this morning and filed a complaint with Virginia PUC this morning via the web. THEY filed a complaint with Verizon by 12:30 PM. There was a Verizon tech assessing the problem at about 5 PM today, and a robo-call saying a Verizon tech would be out fixing things tomorrow.

You want to read more? http://dougonipcomm.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/virginia-puc-motivates-verizon-repair-for-landline-and-other-mysteries/

I had written off some of the complaints about Verizon and AT&T letting landlines go down the tubes for FiOS builds as a great conspiracy… but now, I’m not so sure.

By: Soapbox Writer

Soapbox Writer — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:29:05 +0000

I wholeheartedly support maintaining a landline for all residential homes. Unfortunately, it is a losing battle in Florida and the legislature is not on the side of consumers. I see it as a safety issue. Apparently, the legislature and governor view it as an issue to be decided by the telecommunications industry. For another take on this, visit http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/thinkoutloud/comments/no-dial-tone/ and http://www.telecompetitor.com/att-stresses-need-for-wireline-home-phone/

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:27:07 +0000

Richard, let’s say for the argument’s sake that cell phones do emit harmful radiation. Do you know that most places now-a-days have wireless internet (WiFi)? That also emits signals which go through your body at a similar power levels as the cellphones and virtually the same frequency spectrum! So use it or don’t… there is stuff flying through the air everywhere in most semi-urban environments.

*Just to be clear I’m not saying that you’re wrong, but by not using cell phone you forgo a ton of convenience for a negligible reduction in exposure.

P.S. And I guarantee that within a 5-10 years most of your computer hookups as well as TV will be wireless. So unless you become Amish there is no chance for you.

P.S.S. Besides the radiation depends on the strength of emitting device and radios and TV stations have been broadcasting things over the air for decades at a much higher powerlevels, in fact you should be relieved that the TV’s aren’t going to broadcast anymore starting (January 2009, July… whenever that actually takes effect).

By: DianeC

DianeC — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:09:18 +0000

I have one of those black rotary dial phones. I have been a loyal “Bell” customer for yrs…I think that is about to change…I pay all of those stupid maintenance fees and cannot get one person to respond to an email or a phone call..I have been without phone service for 9 days and am sincerely thinking about calling Andy Wise, consumer advocate, at the local NBC station and ask him to call the big wig at AT&T and find out who one has to call to get service. If I had to rely on this phone for a 911 call I would be up a proverbial poop creek because there is no dial tone…I have a cell phone, thank goodness. I am calling the public service commissioner today and see if he has the number of “real live person ” at AT&T to speak with or yell at or talk to or something..

By: AT&T: conserve su linea fija o sus seres queridos pueden morir — superfinanciera.com

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:01:39 +0000

[...] su linea fija para quedarse unicamente con la celular, AT&T decidió asustar a sus clientes. [GigaOM] Comparta esta nota [...]

By: spiderpoman

spiderpoman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:55:49 +0000

personally, I would prefer landline if you don’t think it’s a problem to not having a cellphone,
in addition, cell phone may cause brain cancer. it may not a huge issue, but ……. spiderpoman

By: ff11

ff11 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:28:31 +0000

The only thing I have to say is … what a HORRIBLE ad campaign. Who was the genius who came up with this one. Just how unreliable is AT&T’s cellular service and should they really be trying to get us to ask that question?

By: AT&T: Keep Your Landline Or You’ll Die Alone Of Peanut Allergy – AT&T’s latest effort to keep the landline relevant | remove the labels | Gadgets and Life

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:39:21 +0000

[...] people defect to cell only or cable VoIP, AT&T has launched a new significant PR campaign (via GigaOM) aimed at highlighting the landline as the centerpiece of a safety-conscious household. The [...]

By: henry

henry — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:24:18 +0000

Not sure if this was mentioned before, but I’ve been told that 911 will still work on a line with no service, just like a mobile or pay phone (if you can still find one, that is). As long as you have had service in the residence at some point in the past, you can plug a phone in & call 911. I’ve never had to try this, knock wood, so just passing along what I’ve been told.

By: David

David — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:12:35 +0000

I hope- they cuffed him and took him away, and you don’t talk to him anymore!