Gransnet forums

Technology

Landlines versus mobiles

(62 Posts)
Lexisgranny Wed 10-Nov-21 09:57:17

More and more people seem to be dispensing with their landlines and relying entirely on their mobile phones. What are Gransnetters views about this? I can see that financially it may be a sensible move, but practically, does it work?

MerylStreep Wed 10-Nov-21 10:06:38

I haven’t had a landline ( in the uk) for 20 years.
I don’t what you mean by practically how does it work
It’s a phone. You can’t FaceTime etc etc on your land line and the million and one things you can do on you mobile.

crazyH Wed 10-Nov-21 10:07:56

I think you need a land line to get your Wi-Fi - not that I am technically minded

Calendargirl Wed 10-Nov-21 10:08:15

I still prefer my landline.

Yes, I realise I’m out of touch. Mobiles have a place when you’re out and about, but use the landline at home.

Lincslass Wed 10-Nov-21 10:14:56

Still have a landline. Some areas have poor mobile coverage, even now.

MerylStreep Wed 10-Nov-21 10:18:00

crazyH
How am I communicating with you right now in the comfort of my home without a landline? ?

Chestnut Wed 10-Nov-21 10:20:07

As far as I know you need a land line to have internet access for Broadband and TV stations. Obviously you don't need to have a phone plugged in or use the phone number. If anyone knows otherwise then do tell.
I have a phone plugged in because a few old fogies ring me on it, but I never give out the number any more. I use the mobile for everything.

henetha Wed 10-Nov-21 10:23:29

My landline sounds like someone is frying sausages in the background. So I hardly use it. I much prefer my mobile.

Chestnut Wed 10-Nov-21 10:24:36

Calendargirl

I still prefer my landline.

Yes, I realise I’m out of touch. Mobiles have a place when you’re out and about, but use the landline at home.

It's more about the cost than what you prefer. My mobile costs £5 a month for unlimited calls and texts with Smarty, but the landline would be very expensive to make all those phone calls especially long chats with friends or relatives. Not forgetting you have voice or or video call abroad for free with WhatsApp and others.

crazyH Wed 10-Nov-21 10:25:34

Merylstreep
I don’t understand - I’ll have to check out - will save me a bit - thanks

Georgesgran Wed 10-Nov-21 10:30:24

The problem is that you need a landline for wi-fi, I believe? I’ve unplugged mine, but am told that the caller still hears it ringing and can leave a message. I only found this by accident when I plugged it back in one day to find a couple of messages - luckily I was happy to give my mobile number to both callers. I still think a landline might be helpful in an emergency as my mobile struggles to pick up a signal in some rooms and batteries can run down quite fast after a certain point. I live on my own, so it’s belt and braces for me.

Lexisgranny Wed 10-Nov-21 10:31:02

By practically, I mean have you always been able to contact people. I have not always found that this is the case. Phones have run out of charge, people in the garden without their phones and ring tones not as loud as landlines, three story houses, phone not heard etc. People do not always carry their phones around with them when at home.

Sorry, I should have made it more clear. I have had a mobile phone since they were like bricks and have updated them regularly, so I do understand their capabilities, though I must admit that I have always preferred to use my iPad, which I have also had, and updated since they first came on the market.

I tend to agree with you Calendargirl I mainly use my phone when out.

eazybee Wed 10-Nov-21 10:32:25

I have very poor coverage for my mobile and far prefer my landline. I find zoom and facetime conducted via mobiles poor quality and difficult to follow and use my laptop for that.

Tizliz Wed 10-Nov-21 10:40:03

The mobile coverage is only about 95% a fact that Vodafone conveniently forgot when it stopped its sure signal service last month (it used your broadband to give a good signal). Now I have 1 bar of signal - their solution? Get an upto date phone., though my phone works perfectly well.

growstuff Wed 10-Nov-21 10:47:14

My landline has now gone digital and doesn't work if I lose internet signal, so I think I might give up on it completely. I used to have a plug in landline handset in case of electricity failures, but that won't work now.

I can't remember the last time I used the landline to make a call and only ever receive spam calls on it.

DiscoDancer1975 Wed 10-Nov-21 10:48:56

We have a good broadband package which includes all our landline calls. Mostly though, we WhatsApp at home, but don’t have roaming calls. Would just have to use the mobile network which instantly costs £1, but then can make as many calls for no more charge, for the rest of the day.

I suppose I’m old school though, and consider if I’m out, then I’m unavailable. The mobile is for emergencies only. The only time I find I ever want to use it, is in Sainsbury’s....and there’s no signal in there!

Calmlocket Wed 10-Nov-21 10:50:32

You need a landline for the internet, I use my landline phone more than my payg mobile as its cheaper.

glammanana Wed 10-Nov-21 10:52:50

I get my TV through my landline phone & also it connects my emergency link line to the service if I have any problems,I very rarely use my mobile which is about 15yrs old and still going strong.

Chestnut Wed 10-Nov-21 11:25:01

Calmlocket

You need a landline for the internet, I use my landline phone more than my payg mobile as its cheaper.

I can't see how a landline can be cheaper than £5 a month for unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles, plus unlimited texts. That's on Smarty.

JeanneLeFol Wed 10-Nov-21 11:42:50

Our landline now only works using wi-fi calls. It’s all well and good relying on technology but heaven help us when the power goes out as everything has to be plugged into an electric socket to work. And if there’s bad weather the mobile signal disappears. Not good news if your house burns down and there’s no way to call the fire brigade !!

growstuff Wed 10-Nov-21 11:45:56

JeanneLeFol

Our landline now only works using wi-fi calls. It’s all well and good relying on technology but heaven help us when the power goes out as everything has to be plugged into an electric socket to work. And if there’s bad weather the mobile signal disappears. Not good news if your house burns down and there’s no way to call the fire brigade !!

Exactly! I was thinking that. That's why I always had a very cheap handset, which could be plugged straight into the wall socket.

muse Wed 10-Nov-21 11:57:03

We've gone digital and were so tempted to drop the landline. Unfortunately we have some family and friends that still have poor mobile signals. Two have no signal. They get charged a lot if they ring mobiles.

We're very lucky as our power is self generated (PV).

I have a good data and call package for my iphone but use WhatsApp for calls as the quality of sound is better. Don't understand why but that doesn't bother me.

Visgir1 Wed 10-Nov-21 11:59:10

I run follow up clinical clinics, we phone patients (they really don't need to be seen in person every time)
Mobile phones... My Observations are... Men never answered their phone/ not turned on/ we can't leave a message per data protection (if its just the provider answer phone message) or they don't hear it.
Landline always answered.
We might encounter call minders but we can get around them.
I have both.

tanith Wed 10-Nov-21 12:10:00

I too get my broadband via my BT account, I only use the phone when a couple of relatives ring me on it if I could I’d get rid of it but other suppliers of broadband aren’t as reliable as BT so I pay their exorbitant price but I do use my iPad a lot for WiFi.

Zoejory Wed 10-Nov-21 12:12:26

We have no landline. Haven't had one for years.