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You may think traditional landlines are obsolete, but they offer several advantages. In most cases, home phone service still operates if there is a power outage, and you have a backup in case your cell phone breaks or gets lost.
Shopping for home telephone service? Keep reading for our comprehensive overview, including the best landline providers plus a look at popular call features.
The best home phone service providers in your area
One of the most effective ways to save on monthly fees for your landline is by bundling. You can get a better price by shopping for TV, internet and phone bundle deals. Some, like Xfinity, also offer service for your mobile phones in their plans. Other options include home security systems and smart-home automation integration.
Cheap landline phone service for seniors
It's vital for senior citizens to have a reliable connection in case of an emergency. Some phone service providers, like AT&T, offer specific discounts to older people. Be sure to ask because not every phone company advertises their senior discounts on phone service.
It's also a good idea to ask about AARP discounts on landline service. AARP works with a range of companies to give seniors a better deal on their essential communications needs.
Home phone service features
Another major consideration in your choice of home phone service should be the features the providers offers. These days there is a large selection of popular calling features that prove useful in everyday life:
Caller ID: This is a given, and almost every provider offers it.
Call waiting with caller ID: Find out who's calling before interrupting your current call.
Three-way calling: This is helpful for group conversations with family and friends, or for work conference calls.
Speed dial: Allows you to enter phone numbers in an instant, even if you don't have them memorized.
Call forwarding: Have calls routed to your cell phone or another landline so you never miss an important call.
Call return: Commonly known as *69, allows you to dial back the last number that phoned you.
Call blocking: Automatically reject unwanted incoming calls from specific numbers.
Anonymous call blocking: Rejects calls with no caller ID information.
Distinctive rings: Know who's calling just by the sound of the ring.
Landline texting: Some providers, like Xfinity, allow you to text from your home landline.
Voicemail to text transcription: This feature isn't available from all providers, however, a few - like AT&T - give you the option to have your voicemails sent to email in text format.
International calling
If you frequently call outside of the United States you'll want to look at each provider's international call plans to make sure they have the features you need for the countries you call the most.
Per-minute rate vs. international call plan: You can typically get a plan that gives you either free calling to a set of countries or reduced rates on all your calls. For less frequent users, a by-the-minute rate might be more practical.
Additional fees: Did you know it can cost more to call an international cell phone number than a landline? Make sure you know the terms and conditions of the countries you call before choosing a plan.
Unlimited calling to some countries: Providers like Spectrum, for example, give you unlimited calling to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico with their standard landline plans.
Cheap landline alternatives
Sold on the idea of mobile phones and the internet completely replacing landline service? No problem - there are plenty of options for using your existing services as a substitute for traditional home phone service.
VoIP home phone
Voice over Internet Protocol - or VoIP - is another affordable option for landline substitution. VoIP allows you to make calls using your internet connection instead of the phone line. Benefits of VoIP technology include:
It's much cheaper:VoIP providers aren't bound to all of the fees and charges traditional phone companies must pay. You'll typically pay a low monthly fee.
Get the same features: VoIP services usually includes the things you're used to - caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, etc. - at no extra charge.
Flexibility: You can make VoIP calls no matter where you are, as long as you have access to an internet connection.
International calls: International call rates are very low to free with VoIP home. You can typically buy a monthly plan, or pay a very affordable per minute rate, depending on the countries you need to call.
Get a phone number anywhere: Another useful VoIP feature is the ability to choose your area code. This allows you to turn long-distance calls into local phone service.
Cell phone plans
Cheap cell phone service keeps you connected, gives you all the features you love from the big guys, and keeps you on the major wireless networks. All this at a fraction of the cost you're used to and without the added expense of a landline.
MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators - are smaller cell phone providers that run on the big three nationwide wireless networks. They sell their service for up to 50% less because they don't have the high overhead costs of the big guys. They also offer everything you're accustomed to - from unlimited data to mobile hotspot usage.
Home phone plans can range from $9.99 to $39.99 per month.
What companies still offer landline service?
Ooma and Community Phone offer very good value landline phone plans.
Recap
By now you should have a good idea of whether or not landline home phone service is right for you. Review the benefits of landlines, find the best phone service providers by ZIP code in your area, and check out their home phone features.
Don't forget to take into account whether you just need local phone service, international call rates, or are also looking for cheap cable and internet packages as well.
Finally, take into consideration landline alternatives like cheap cell phone plans and VoIP service providers. These options may just make it more affordable and sensible to replace your landline altogether.
