BT phone landlines changing to IP technology

Sorry Bea - I don’t know anything about it ….

Just like Manuel in Fawlty Towers: "I know nothing..."

I posted this query on Martin Lewis Forum and Forum member stated its already happening and I should have been contacted by Sky (friends had tried calling me past week and my landline phone not ringing out - housebound at moment so didn't miss a call) the Forumite thinks ?maybe Sky have already switched me over to VoIP service which is plugged into your router rather than the existing phone socket....[shock} cant get thru to Sky

We were sent new BT phones about 6 months ago. Yes, they are connected to the internet via our home hub. This meant that when our BT internet went down for a day this week we also had no landline. Also have to dial the whole number including area code even for local calls.

It’s been known about for some time.
This is an article from 2021.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/bt-axe-traditional-landline-phones-25537111

We only discovered this recently when we had problems with our landline. The engineer put us on the new system and warned us to make sure that our mobiles were always charged because, if there’s a powercut, the landline won’t work! 🤬 That means that people without a mobile, or who can’t get a signal, can no longer use a phone to communicate in an emergency! Shocking 🤬

Squiffy

We only discovered this recently when we had problems with our landline. The engineer put us on the new system and warned us to make sure that our mobiles were always charged because, if there’s a powercut, the landline won’t work! 🤬 That means that people without a mobile, or who can’t get a signal, can no longer use a phone to communicate in an emergency! Shocking 🤬

Contact your provider if you've no other means of communication during a power cut as they can provide back up batteries.

Squiffy it is shocking as am sure there are quite a few Seniors rely on just a landline...I know of one friend who has never been engaged with IT and technology and resents it...she's very anxious and wonder how she will cope as she refuses to get online...

Pittcity how are they supposed to contact the provider if they don't have a mobile??

The Age UK website is very informative

Bea65

Pittcity how are they supposed to contact the provider if they don't have a mobile??

I mean contact them now and get a back up battery in case it's ever needed.

Bea we, too, have a friend who had never engaged with technology. She is 95 and bedridden.

Pittcity Thank you, I’ll check out the info on backup batteries. The BT engineer never mentioned that!

I have friends who are not online and do not wish to be. That is going to cause problems, particularly as, if they do succumb, I am sure the changeover will result in expense.

Tweedle24

I have friends who are not online and do not wish to be. That is going to cause problems, particularly as, if they do succumb, I am sure the changeover will result in expense.

The Age UK website says that those without an internet connection will be provided with one for the telephone when they are changed over at no extra charge.

Pittcity

Tweedle24

I have friends who are not online and do not wish to be. That is going to cause problems, particularly as, if they do succumb, I am sure the changeover will result in expense.

The Age UK website says that those without an internet connection will be provided with one for the telephone when they are changed over at no extra charge.

BT don’t seem to be advertising this, do they?!

For those who plan to rely on having an older, 'more simple' mobile phone in the event of emergencies, please be aware that both 2G and 3G networks are also due to be switched off soon (timetable for switch-off according to your mobile phone provider).

I'm wondering how I'll manage with the switch over. The main phone socket is in my bedroom upstairs where the line enters the house. That is where my router is. How will I plug in my phone to the router (assuming talktalk provide a new one)? I don't want the phone in my bedroom. I'd never make it upstairs fast enough to answer it, let alone hear it ringing!

I’m sure life used to be less complicated … 🤦‍♀️

MiniMoon

I'm wondering how I'll manage with the switch over. The main phone socket is in my bedroom upstairs where the line enters the house. That is where my router is. How will I plug in my phone to the router (assuming talktalk provide a new one)? I don't want the phone in my bedroom. I'd never make it upstairs fast enough to answer it, let alone hear it ringing!

You won’t need to plug your phone into the router, it’ll just be a mobile you carry in your pocket, bag or whatever is convenient. But, you will need a separate lead and the correct plug/usb convertor to charge the mobile phone from the mains.

OMG we don’t have a great signal here, sometimes I have to go across the road or climb on the gate.
I have an old phone as Missedout mentioned to use during an outage.
I can’t see the point of keeping a landline if it depends on Wi-Fi connectivity.

MiniMoon, when you switch to the new landline, you should be provided with either a digital-to-analogue voice adaptor to plug into your new router (which will work with your existing handset, presumably downstairs) or a VoIP handset and cradle that you will 'pair' with the router (hold the phone by the router and press button on the handset and router so they recognise each other) then plug in the handset cradle where your existing landline phone was. I don't think you will have to move your phone to the bedroom or carry it round the house with you. Try not to worry.

This is the main body of the email we received from BT. It might help those who have not been contacted from their supplier yet.


Hello,

The time has come for the UK’s entire home phone network to undergo a major revamp. The landline, as we know it, has served us well, but it can’t keep up with the demands of modern life.

But the good news is we’ve got something much better to replace it.

We’ll be moving you over to Digital Voice – BT’s new home phone service. It’s already used by almost 2 million customers and makes keeping in touch clearer and more secure than ever.


Why we’re making the change


The existing landline network has become old and outdated. This is why it’s being retired across the UK, by all providers, and upgraded to a digital service.

Digital Voice runs on a broadband connection, which means we can continue to give you the best service now and in the future.


When will I be moved over to Digital Voice?


We’ll be starting to move customers over to Digital Voice within the next few months, but it may take longer – 12 months or more - before everyone is switched over.


Will I get a new phone and will my number change?


You’ll still be able to use your own phone, keep your number and the price will stay the same when you move over to Digital Voice.


Is Digital Voice easy to set up?


If you have a broadband internet connection already, you’ll need to plug your phone into your broadband router instead of the wall socket.

Don’t worry if your broadband router is in an awkward location - we can provide an adaptor to help keep your phone in easy reach.

If you don’t have a broadband connection and only use a landline, we’ll be in touch with details about which service you’ll be switching to. In the meantime, your service won’t change.


What do I need to do now?


Absolutely nothing. We’ll be back in touch when it’s time to switch you over to Digital Voice and advise you on the next steps.

If you don’t use your home phone much and want to switch to a Broadband Only plan, head over to bt.com to see all your options.


Does Digital Voice work with telecare and burglar alarms?


Some telecare and burglar alarms might not work with Digital Voice. If you use these services, we recommend getting in touch with your provider to check your equipment will still work properly after the switch.


What happens to my Digital Voice service if there’s a power outage?


If there’s a power cut or your broadband’s down, you won’t be able to make calls using Digital Voice, including 999 calls. You could still use a mobile, which you should always keep charged. But, if you don’t have a mobile or are in an area with no mobile signal, rest assured our team are here to support you and can help provide a solution that’s right for you.

There seems to be a lot of worry on this thread.
I think of it like when the TV signal switched from analogue to digital. There was worry and teething problems but now we take it for granted.

Pittcity

There seems to be a lot of worry on this thread.
I think of it like when the TV signal switched from analogue to digital. There was worry and teething problems but now we take it for granted.

It’s the last paragraph of nandalot’s post that is the worrying bit.