Landline Telephone

A landline telephone is one that has a physical line connection to a network of telecommunications.  Landline phones were developed at the end of the 19th century and quickly became common around the world.  However, in the start of the new century, cell phones have begun to replace landline phones as the main form of telephone service.

The telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell.  Bell's invention of the telephone was based on the electric telegraph.  There were a number of designs that appeared shortly following the design of Bell's, but all of them were landlines, and were connected by transmission wires.  Once the telephone began to become common, the central operating switchboards appeared where physical connections were then made by operators so the telephone users were able to communicate with one another with this instrument.

Every state currently has a number of landline providers, most of which are dominant companies in the country.  Indiana phone companies are primarily dominated by Indiana Bell, one of the Baby Bells that were spawned from the break-up of monopolization of AT&T.

Landline telephones have been operated on the principle of electrical resistance.  This means that when a user speaks into the handset of a landline phone, he then activates a microphone that will send an electrical current through a pair of wires that are insulated.  This current will follow a physical course, and pass through a telephone exchange.  At this point, it will be re-transmitted to the listener who is at the other end of the connection and it will be converted into sound.  Even phones that are wireless that use landline networks need a physical connection, and the cord that would exist between the handset and the phone is replaced by a radio signal. 

In the 1960s, analog signals were beginning to be replaced by digital telephone signals.  Cellular networks then began to appear in the 1970s and a modem was used to transmit a telephone signal without using a wired network.  Cell phones became available to the general public in the 1980s after they had been approved by the Federal Communications Commission.  The quality of these early cell phones was typically poor and using them was fairly expensive.  In the late 1990s, there was a new generation of cell phones which made use of improved network technology.  This resulted in the replacement of many private landlines and brought telephone service into a number of areas of the world where landlines never existed before. 

There are a number of advantages to landline phones that do not exist with cell phones.  Despite the fact that landline phone use is declining, the biggest advantage to landline phones is that they keep fidelity to the telephone signal.  Landlines do not have the same problems that cell phones do when there is bad weather or the location of the user is in a remote area.  Landline telephones also do not require there to be an electrical connection, and they are operational when there is a power outage.  Yet cell phones rely on the relay towers that must have power in order for them to receive a signal or send a signal. The quality of sound and the reliability of landline phones are also considered to be superior to those of cell phones.  Landline phones are also important in case of a 911 emergency, where a signal is picked up directly from the location of a landline phone.  This does not happen with cell phones, which can certainly be a concern.

Landline phones also have some disadvantages.  The biggest disadvantage of a landline phone is generally considered to be their immobility.  Cell phones have the ability to be taken and used nearly everywhere, but landline phones are basically stuck in the location where they are placed.  Cell phones also offer other services that a landline phone does not offer.  For example, you can take pictures, surf the internet, listen to music, and much more on your cell phone, which are not things you can do from a landline phone.  Having both a cell phone and landline phone will result in a bigger expense for you too, so some people have opted to forget about a landline phone and just rely on their cell phone.  This is a trend that is expected to continue, and eventually landline phones are expected to become obsolete.  Usually, however, if you have to choose between a landline phone and a cell phone, choosing a landline phone will likely get you a price drop, while a cell phone will get you convenience, so it really depends on which one you value more.  However, keep in mind that landline phones are losing their quality advantage quickly as cell phone quality continues to improve. 

As technology advances, so do the options that are available to you with a landline phone in your home.

Providers of landline phones are beginning to feel the effects of abandoned landline phones.  However, before we start feeling too sorry for them, major landline providers such as AT&T and Verizon get anywhere from about 1/3 to 1/2 of their revenue from subscribers of landlines, we cannot assume that they will lose those customers when they eventually decide to move over to wireless only.  Instead, they may just be able to convert them to become their wireless subscribers.  Phone companies, however, are beginning to face competition from the cable companies, such as Comcast and Time Warner, who have attempted to take customers of the traditional phone companies because they offer bundling services that are combined with cable and internet and that promise a savings to the consumer. 

The phone companies meanwhile continue to worry about their future business in landline phone service.  A lack of landline phones will affect a number of industries.  Organizations that rely on polling rely primarily on calls that are placed to landline phones, as the federal law prevents phone calls to cell phones by the computerized systems that are frequently used by pollsters.  This means that public opinion polls may not be so accurate.  This is particularly the case if the landline users that remain are from a specific demographic, which are most likely to be white, over thirty, affluent, and homeowners. 

Politicians have also begun to change the way that they target their constituents using technology.  Using cell phones is off limits to campaigns because you have to pay for your cell phone service whether you are calling or receiving a call.  While cell phones and VoIP are continuing to increase in popularity, and trends are showing that many people have both a landline and a cell phone, landlines will likely stick around for a little longer until people begin to feel comfortable with just using a cell phone and not having a landline. 

Therefore, if you are forced to choose between a landline and a cell phone, here are some tips for you to help you make your decision. 

• Consider how much time you talk.  The amount of time that you talk will help you figure out the better option for you.  If you talk for a lot, then the land line is a much better value for you, as most cell phone providers charge you based on the number of minutes that you talk, and this can really add up.  However, if you do not talk that often on the phone, then a cell phone might be a better option for you.
• Consider your lifestyle.  If you are away from your home quite often, then a cell phone is probably a good choice for you because you can use it as your contact phone while you are away.  Or if you rarely use your landline phone, then a cell phone may be a better bet for you.  However, if you find that you do not go out that much and do not find yourself in a situation in which you need a telephone while you are out often, then a landline phone may be just right for you.
• Consider the size of your family.  If your family is large, then it is likely that a landline may be a cheaper choice for you. 
  
• Consider how important reliability is to you.  Cell phones have improved tremendously over the years, but they still are not at the same level of quality as land line phones when it comes to the reliability.  Cell phones are simply not as reliable.  Additionally, landline phones provide 911 with the exact address of your home from a landline phone even if you are unable to speak, while cell phones to do not provide this safety promise. 
  
• Consider contracts.  Many cell phone companies require you to have a contract which may require a long term commitment to a contract.  This means that if you have to cancel your contract, you may have very large financial penalties. 
  
• Consider your ability to be located.  Cell phones provide you with the ability to be located anytime anywhere, but the number is not going to be available in the phone book.  If you want your number in the phone book, then you need a landline.  However, if you want the ability to be contacted any time of the day no matter where you are, then a cell phone is best for you.