3 Reasons to Keep Your Landline

Infographic: Landline Phones Are a Dying Breed | Statista

Landlines are quickly going the way of the VHS player and cassette tape.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, since 2004, the number of U.S. houses with a working landline has dropped from over 90% to less than 50%. Recently, cellphones have eclipsed landlines in popularity.

Cost is cited as the number one reason to drop the landline -- and with cellphones, most people don't see a need for a landline. However, according to Consumer Reports, because of cable company bundling and promotions, dropping your landline might only save you a few dollars/month.

That being said, here are the top 3 reasons to keep your landline:

Landline Quality
Do you work from home? A landline will give you better sound quality. In a series of tests performed by Consumer Reports, voice quality for talking and listening on a cordless home phone was generally better than that of the best cell phones.

Power Outages
Given all the storms we've had recently, this is a big one: a phone with a corded base can work during a power outage, as long as it’s connected to a conventional landline or VoIP service with battery backup. Cell phone towers can be spotty during storms -- and if your phone dies, you're out of luck.

911 Calls
Cell phones use a GPS-based method to report your location in a 911 emergency. That’s fine when you’re on the road, but if you live in an apartment or crowded area, a cell phone risks being inaccurate. A home phone is connected to your address, including the apartment number, so the 911 operator knows exactly where to send help even if you can't talk.

Think of your landline as an insurance policy: it's there when you need it, and gives you peace of mind the rest of the time.

Sources: Consumer Reports, 5 Reasons to Keep a Home Phone | Consumer Reports, Update on 911 and "disconnected" landlines | Statista, Landline Phones are a Dying Breed

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