AT&T to raise landline phone service by more than 20 percent

[Newsjock]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

For the second time in two years, AT&T is raising local landline phone rates by more than 20 percent.

The phone giant plans to start informing customers next week that charges for basic phone service will jump from $13.50 a month to $16.45 on Jan. 2. AT&T also plans to raise the rate for its LifeLine service for low-income customers, by 73 cents to $6.84 a month.

... But consumer advocates questioned both the need and the timing of the price increase. They noted that it comes amid a recession, when many consumers are struggling financially.

"There's nothing in the economy or the cost of providing phone service that would justify a 22 percent increase," said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13579916

[obliviously]

1. This should bring them more business!

[Avalux]

2. If anything, demand for a landline is dropping.

So it makes no sense to charge more. Or maybe it does to the greedy assholes at AT&T. :eyes:

[Regret My New Name]

111. I think that's why they are increasing the prices...

With more people using just their cells and VOIP for calls, they need to keep their profits up. So, instead of finding ways to streamline, they just charge more.

[NOLALady]

3. Great.

I bought a MagicJack today. I will definitely cancel my landline Monday.

[april]

37. I have Vonage //its great $24. a month unliminted calls anywhere

[sentelle]

120. Not Anywhere

International (outside North America) costs more.

[NJCher]

90. you'll love it

I've had it for a few months, in addition to my cell.

On only a couple of occasions has it failed me. It's inexpensive and the sound transmission is on par with a regular land line.

Cher

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Thank $DIETY I don't have a landline

nor do I see a need for one.

We have Internet based phone, and it's not Vonage, or VOIP - it's a videophone (we are deaf)

And yes, by law, they have to take 911 calls, and they have done an admirable job of it.

I had to use it only once and the response time was less than 5 minutes to request an emergency service for my father.

[Mojorabbit]

51. I will keep mine

After hurricane charley the landline was the only phone that worked. The cells worked for a couple of days till their backup power supply failed. That and we have some ancient rotary phones we keep hooked up for fun.

[Hawkeye-X]

54. Fortunately I live in a landlocked state

but we do live in the edge of the tornado alley. But it's extremely rare that the tornado hits a major city like Denver. I suppose a blizzard might knock down the landline, but my 'Net connection is buried fiber optics, so we're pretty much set.

Hawkeye-X

[ngant17]

60. people are forgetting that ATT landlines supply its own voltage

which is to say, 48 vdc to produce the signal needed to transmit/receive voice over cat3 (or higher) cable.

VOIP depends on your local power company cable which supplies the 120vac to run your computer which runs your voip phone. Unless you have your own portable generator, or you have a ups battery system, you are out of luck for phone service when a storm knocks out the nearest transformer or lines that connect to it. That is why a landline has its advantages.

During the last big season of Florida hurricanes, we lost power for several days but the landlines stayed operational at least for the first few days.

I'm keeping at least one landline, it's not a hugh expense if you just want it for local calls, to dial into your local isp, ect.

Cell phones are okay but it's not cost effective to use them for internet unless you have some kind of business plan bundled with your wireless laptop/notebook.

[goclark]

73. We don't have a cell tower close enough to our house

to always get a signal.

When need the land line in Emergencies and because my Mother has a Life Alert Button that must link to a line line.

[PSPS]

5. Third-party dialtone outfits are swarming around business customers.

One example is Comcast who sold one of my clients on a ten-line with Internet cutover. While nobody can match an LEC's (or AT&T's) service reliability, the 45% cost savings that Comcast could give my client was too much for them to pass up.

Almost all of my multi-line business clients have been cold-called by Comcast or Integra in the past couple of months. Even LEC's like Qwest are cold calling, offering slightly lower rates in exchange for a multi-year commitment.

In this particular case cited in the OP, I think AT&T has been trying to get out of the "basic phone service" and "LifeLine" residential market for a long time. One way to hasten that is to raise rates.

[toopers]

122. That is part of the problem . . .

I use to work for BellSouth so I imagine the same financing exists at the mother ship. BellSouth was required to sell the residential land line for a loss, and allowed to make it up on the business lines. However, the 3rd party companies never go after the residential lines (for obvious reasons), so they cherry pick the very profitable business customers, and can even undercut the traditional telephone company because there was nothing else to subsidize. I am not sure if the relationship between residential and business lines still exists, but I would be surprised if it did not.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. I have had vonage for several years. Never raised the rates. Perfect reception.

I can call almost anywhere in the world for no extra charge...
I get every single extra that is offered by all the other phone companies.

[Goldom]

8. I've had Vonage for 1 yr and they've raised mine once...

using the non-infinite minutes plan. Not complaining though, it's still about half the price of Qwest (and that was back then... probably over $60 now, compared to $20 for vonage).

[BrklynLiberal]

9. and the service is great isn't it..? I have not had any problems directly related to them

If my electricity goes out and I lose the hi speed internet, the calls are forwarded to my cell phone. That has happened fewer than 5 times in all the years I have had vonage.

[TwixVoy]

12. Yup great services

running over AT&T and other telecom lines that they don't pay a dime to maintain.

[TwixVoy]

11. Vonage uses the physical LINES AT&T provides

They have to pay ZERO to maintain those lines.

As AT&T loses more land line customers (to services such as Vonage, for example) they have less revenue going in to maintaining the actual infrastructure of the lines. With out the actual lines that AT&T and other telecom business maintains your Vonage would be useless. Thus they need to raise costs on existing customers.

Eventually people on services such as Vonage will probably have to pay an FCC regulatory fee to help maintain the actual lines the service uses.

[Delphinus]

31. I've used ViaTalk

for going on three years now. There have been some problems, but overall I'm satisfied. Verizon was my only choice until Comcast came in, but, seriously, why would I pay for cable Internet and *NOT* use VOIP?

[Lugnut]

7. We have VOIP in our cable package.

It's much less expensive than Verizon was for comparable phone services.

[AllTooEasy]

10. Who the "F" uses landline service anymore?!?!?!

Next thing I'll hear: "Sony is raising the price of cassette tapes".

It's far more economical to drop the home landline, and get a cell phone.

[Iowa]

16. I pay $30 a month for a landline with unlimited long distance...

Are you paying less than that for your cell phone package, and can you call anywhere, at anytime, for less than $30/month? I doubt it. If you do pay less for all of that, please post a link.

Furthermore, cell phones are a pain in the ass. Batteries dying. You've got to mess with charging. Shitty reception a fair amount of the time. Plus the plans are expensive as hell.

It's FAR more economical to drop the cell and use a landline, IMO.

[sandnsea]

17. Agreed n/t

[JenniferJuniper]

18. Crotchety age may be setting in but

I agree with you. And I can never find the damnable tiny piece of crap when I need it.

Cell phones look all shiny and fancy and they may be able to make pancakes (rip George Carlin) but they've got a long way to go when it comes to the fundamentals of phonemenship. (nope. still can't hear you now.)

[katkat]

32. let's hear it for landlines

I keep asking my relatives who have only cell phones, what about constantly having to recharge the batteries, what about the lousy reception out here in the boonies, what about where is the darn thing when I want to make a call, or if I forget to put it in my pocketbook when I leave the house? Or if I'm on the second floor and it's on the first floor or vice versa?

I have yet to hear a good answer. Meanwhile I stay with my cheap Verizon landline and my cheap only for calling AAA etc. cell phone in my pocketbook. I could probably go to one of those pay as you go cell phones, but why bother with that hassle when Verizon Wireless is hassle free, about $30 a month and I am long since free of any contract.

[quakerboy]

79. I dont know that I am any relative, but...

I charge mine at night, when I want to sleep anyway. I can charge in the car, but that is an extreme rarity. I would have to charge a cordless phone just as much, and if you want to think about it that way, a land line phone always has to be plugged in, which is all charging really is.

Reception is an issue, especially out of town. But every time a storm comes through and takes out a wire, there is no reception for a land line either. I have less problems with my cell in town than my parents do with their land line out on the mountain.

The damn thing is always in my pocket or on my desk. Just like my wallet and my keys. Easy to find. At least as easy to find as a cordless phone, and I don't have to have a separate phone in each room, nor holes in my walls, nor do I have to worry about where to put a phone if/when I want to re-arrainge furniture.

And I am too poor to have a second floor, so that's not an issue for me. But If I did, I suspect I would either carry it with me, as I can only use one floor at once, or if it somehow became an issue, we could always station my wife's phone on one floor and mine on another. But seeing as I dislike answering phones, it suites me to take my time getting to it anyway.

But what settles it for me is that I have to have a cell for business, so why bother duplicating functionality(and cost). I know that is not the case for many people, but what is more economical is definitely variable on a case by case basis.

[katkat]

95. diff

quakerboy,

The differences are my cordless phone is always plugged in, I don't have to even think about charging it, or putting it in the charger or retrieving it from the charger when I leave the house.

You are incorrect in saying that power failures take out landlines. Landline phones run on a separate electrical system, so if you have a non-cordless phone in the house, you almost certainly have service even during a regular power failure. I am trying to remember when in my 60+ years of life I've had no landline service, and the only instance I can think of was during Loma Prieta, when the volume of calls swamped the system. The landline phone did not lose power, however. My cell phone was not working either.

My cellphone, wallet and keys are not always with me in the house. I don't sleep with any of those things, I don't carry them into the kitchen when I'm cooking.

It's a convenience to have a phone in nearly every room, especially for someone who is not twenty years old or who doesn't want to dump a pet out of their lap to get the phone. The expense is tiny, buy a phone once, it lasts for decades. The holes in the walls don't bother me any more than electrical outlets do. Landline phones are also hugely cheaper than cellphones, and don't lock you into a contract.

Here's another reason. If you;r elderly, you want a phone nearby in case of a sudden health problem.

Most importantly, a landline at home and a cellphone in my pocketbook is a no-brainer, while a cell phone only set up is fraught with the constant need to manage it.

[quakerboy]

102. your cordless phone is plugged in?

did you mean corded, or am I misunderstanding? What would be the point of having a cordless phone plugged in all the time?

I am not talking about power failures taking out land lines. I am talking about storms, trees, and phone lines. I cant count the number of times storms up on the mountain take out the phone line to my parents place. The most vulnerable point seems to be from the pole to their cabin, but its not the only weak point, as they discover every year. I will grant you that you have to stand in certain specific locations in their cabin to use a cell, but that's a trade off I would be willing to make, were I living there.

When I am sleeping, I don't answer phones. When I am cooking, I either don't answer phones or can step the 10 feet out to get my cell. And that would remain true with a land line. I wouldn't want one in my kitchen, and if I did have one there, I wouldn't have one in my living room as well. And while I empathize with the lap pet situation(despite a landlord prohibition), my cell is usually close enough by that I can reach it without disturbing my snoozing spouse, which i suspect is somewhat similar.

I guess, what you see as a "constant need to manage", I see as a basic part of any phone setup. One way or another you have a cord, and you are constrained to power and connection needs. And I do not feel free in my budget to have both. I have not checked the price of a land line where I am living, but my sister is stuck with a $57 bill for basic land line service. That does not sound affordable to me.

All I am saying is that there are multiple sides to this. I don't need a land line, it would be an added expense for me and offer little to nothing in the way of convenience or utility. You do, it makes your life easier. Both are valid. I suspect that as long as we are able to maintain the technology we have in this country, we will continue to slowly but inexorably move away from landlines. But who knows. Maybe something new is coming down the pike that will blow both out of the water.

[katkat]

105. quakerboy

My cordless phone sits in its base when I am not using it, so it charges all the time. I only have one cordless phone, the others are regular phones.

I always answer the phone. Suppose your parents become ill and they or a hospital needs to reach you at 2am? Suppose a friend is in some major difficulty and needs your help?

[quakerboy]

110. Been there

I am looking forward to when the induction chargers become available, and I can just set my cell on the plate and let it charge whenever its not in use.

Yours sits in its base and charges. Mine sits on the desk and charges(at night). I just don't see a big difference there

As as for 2 am calls... The glib answer is that I am usually awake at that time. The more comprehensive is that for almost a year I had a really obnoxious telemarketer with a "fake" number who kept calling at about 5 am on random days. I got trained not to come fully awake to night calls anymore. I can easily hear my phone from the other room, and I am a light sleeper, so I do wake up, but I generally chose not to deal with it. If it is important they will either try a second time or call my wife's phone, which is a more privately held number.

And to be fair, given my business and my family, I have gotten my share of emergency "I may be bleeding to death" type calls. And never one yet that couldn't wait 10 minutes until I get around to returning the call. When it is that bad, I am not a paramedic, and they should call 911.

[JNelson6563]

67. The cell works for me.

I pay a real reasonable price for my plan and have 5 people I can talk to for unlimited time, free. My phone company is very progressive, supporting only progressive causes and doing so quite actively. (www.credomobile.com Check it out DUers.)

I am not home very much and like for my kids to be able to reach me anytime, they are 17 & 20. I got a home phone about 2 years ago when my )then) husband and I first parted ways. Found I literally never used it. When I moved again I didn't bother getting one.

I think these absolute statements about what's the best way to go are erroneous. We all have different situations. It is getting more common for people to just have a cell phone, regardless of how anyone feels about so, "what are they thinking?" is a logical response to what ATT's doing.

Julie

[Iowa]

82. Nice... but that's not the issue at hand.

Someone up-thread made the following statement:

"Who the "F" uses landline service anymore?!?!?! ... It's far more economical to drop the home landline, and get a cell phone."

You can say a lot of things about a cell phone, but you can't say it's more economical. Now there's an "absolute statement" for you. If you know that to be wrong, let's hear what you have to say.

[JNelson6563]

101. Absolute statements from either side of issue are wrong.

:-)

[Iowa]

103. I think you get what I'm saying, but choose to be evasive.

It's impossible to have a rational discussion with someone who plays those kinds of games.

[JNelson6563]

123. Whatever.

I concurred with you without investing alot of time in my remarks. I guess that makes me a game player who is only capable of irrational discussion.

My gawd, could you be more full of shit/yourself?

Julie--who remembers when DU wasn't so full of assholes.

[Regret My New Name]

112. Well, that's if it's one or the other.

Many of us require a cell phone these days(or at least would be highly inconvenienced if we didn't have one). So, for many of us, if we get a landline, we're also going to need a cell too.

I see little benefit in having both a cell and a landline, so I just stick to my cell. Of course, I suspect that would be different if I had a family...

[tabbycat31]

75. I have not had a landline since 2002

I want one phone where I can be reached at wherever I am. Plus for someone like me who HATES the phone, you have texting. Tell me a landline company that offers texting.

I pay $42 for my cellphone including texts.

[donco6]

108. I have to have a cell phone for work.

So no landline for me. It's a useless additional cost.

[donco6]

109. Cheapest I found was Cricket for $35/mo.

Unlimited long distance, unlimited talk, text and caller ID.

It's close - and people value the cell portability, so it's worth it to a lot of people.

http://www.mycricket.com/cricketplans/denver

[frog92969]

20. DSL

Or I wouldn't bother.

[WheelWalker]

84. That's what it's about, IMO

[Deja Q]

107. Qwest now has DSL plans that don't force one to be tethered to landlines...

Thank goodness. $15 for a basic line that only telemarketers use...

Whether the extra $10 worth of fees are still included, I have yet to see because I only just axed my landline...

[Xithras]

117. DSL and the lack of number portability are the only reasons I have a land line.

SBC will permit me to have DSL service with no telephone service, but if I do that they tack on a service charge that closes the gap up anyway. Cutting my landline saves me only $2-$3 a month. And THEN I'd have to change my phone number with everyone I know and every place I do business with, which would be a huge pain since I've had the same number for 12 years.

[Le Taz Hot]

25. A lot of elderly people,

that's who. I'm talking about people in their 80's and 90's who may not be real comfortable with changes in their phone service, much less them and everyone else having to learn a different phone number. Or are you one of those youngblood DUers who think all the old people should just hurry up and die off? :mad:

[boppers]

88. Psst, phone numbers are portable now.

My grandfather's 96, he got rid of his land line once he realized anybody could call him (or vice versa) anywhere he was.

[fasttense]

27. Cell phones don't work here in the mountains of East TN.

You can't get a signal in our house on a cell. Sometimes if you go on the back porch and lean out over the rail, you'll pick up 3 bars but no where in the house. So, a land line is a must for people in the mountains.

[MadHound]

29. Those of us who live out in the rural areas where cell phone service doesn't reach

Also, I have a telephone coop, and it costs much less than any cell phone service that I've found.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

34. We do.. because we live in an valley and a lot of tall trees around.

I was gonna buy a new phone and had the chance to test the top three services around here. ALL three got two ( 2 ) bars outside, three standing if I stood on a box. Drive down the road 1/4 mile and got 5 bars.

Maby someday satellite phones will be afforable, but right now Lan Line is the only way to go.

BTW: I've tried the Cable-phone-service once, the unit we rented even had its own battery, guess wha happened when the power went out? That's right, no phone service!

[NashVegas]

35. I Keep a Landline With Local Service

In the event of power outages.

[AwakeAtLast]

42. I keep mine for real 911 protection

Cell phones are not as helpful in emergencies, plus mine is bundled with my DSL.

[katkat]

97. 911

I once tried calling 911 on my cell phone, when some road rage nut was going after a woman at a red light. Fortunately she was able to get her car out of there and away from him, because ten minutes later I was still waiting for someone to answer 911, at which point I hung up.

[Xithras]

118. For most of the nation, mobile 911 service is terrible.

I've used it several times over the years, and have never had a good experience. Long wait times, frequent disconnections, and operators who often have no familiarity with the area (where I live, mobile 911 calls get routed to a call center about 100 miles away, while landline 911 calls go straight to the local sheriffs office).

[Auggie]

45. I still have clients sending me faxes

[gauguin57]

46. I still use a land line because cellphone reception often sucks.

Sometimes I just can't stand the gurgling noises that happen during conversations ... or passing through a room and losing the person. So I keep a landline for local phone service so I can make a call without having to put up with that. It's worth the extra $$$ for me.

And I still use cassette tapes (along with all kinds of other recording media). Though I haven't bought one in a long time (I have a LOT of old Prairie Home Companion and other NPR shows on cassette tape ... and I bought a bunch of rock-bottom bargain-bin books on tape (that's why they're in the bargain bin) to listen to as I fall asleep (I recommend Jimmy Carter ... his voice will put you to sleep in 90 seconds (AND he'll encourage you, while you sleep, to help your fellow man)).

[LearnedHand]

53. I have a landline STRICTLY so I don't have to ...

... give out my cellphone number to businesses. I don't want to expose my cellphone to IM spam.

[Abq_Sarah]

55. I dropped three landlines

For my business. I retained one strictly for high speed DSL. I then signed on with Verizon (best coverage in my area) for three cell phones and wireless internet service. All for less than I was paying for 4 landlines and I was able to port over the existing business phone numbers.

[tonysam]

72. Some of us have it for our computers n/t

[Coventina]

116. Thank you! The snobbery of some around here is unbelievable

when these issues come up.

We can't afford high-speed internet & anyway, our cell phones have extremely poor reception inside our house!

[Xithras]

119. I don't think it's snobbery

We just have a lot of posters from denser urban areas with better cellphone coverage and more connectivity options. Those posters tend to forget that the majority of Americans don't have those services available.

3 Megabit DSL is the fastest broadband I can get, and I'm glad to get it. According to the latest numbers, roughly 20% of American Internet users still use dialup because nothing faster is available, or because they can't afford broadband.

[Hosnon]

77. I haven't had a land line in almost a decade but had to get one for my business.

I actually asked the technician if phones still have to be plugged into phone jacks (it was on the other side of the room)! Haha..

(FYI: they don't.)

[azmouse]

85. I have no interest in a cell phone service gets overloaded in an emergency.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

100. Many elderly and disabled people have to have one

Their health alert systems are dependent on them.

[sentelle]

121. I do.

Cellular is spotty in my area no matter who your carrier is (lack of cell tower, and the city government won't provide the easements)
VOIP assumes Broadband.

Broadband miminum cost in the area is $50/month for Cable (with only one choice), $30/month for DSL 256k.
Then there is sattelite, which works well, unless it rains.... and this is the Pacific Northwest.
DSL assumes landline.

The only way to bring the cable internet costs down is to bundle it with Cable TV, and VOIP. Which means instead of $50 for internet, $0 for TV and Whatever I use for VOIP, I get to pay $100 a month... which sounds like more than $50 for internet alone....

And the only thing worse than the rising cost of AT&T is the rising cost of the monopolising cable companies.

[Old and In the Way]

13. No big shocker.

Lots of people are dropping their landlines...I shed 2 lines at my house a few months back. Almost all my calls were coming in on my cell and I use a service called One Suite that allows me to use LD w/o going through the network I subscribe to, thus avoiding their ridiculous LD rates. I had rationalized using my phone lines 1) as an internet back-up in case I needed to use a dial-up modem, but my cellphone has internet capabilities and 2) a dedicated fax line - faxes are dying, too - I now have an electronic fax service that converts received faxes into e-mail attachments. My outgoing faxes are sent via the internet and are converted by OneSuite to fax transmission.

The customer base for landlines is shrinking...and those remaining will absorb more of the infrastructure cost to maintain. It's a lot cheaper to maintain cellular infrastructure than the analog landlines. Obviously, increasing monthly rates will continue the cycle of lost customers/increasing costs until the business model collapses completely.

[katkat]

33. shout out for maxemail

Which I have used for years instead of an actual fax. They seem to do everything right.

[JenniferJuniper]

14. It must be me

but I've never been able to hear well enough to carry on an in depth conversation whilst on a cell phone. No matter the phone, no matter the carrier. And I'm neither deaf nor terribly old. They'll have to pry my land line from my cold, dead hands.

[Tesha]

69. Modern cell phones have *VERY TINY* speaker ports.

Unless you line up the speaker port with your ear *QUITE WELL*,
it's very hard to hear the cell phone. Old-style landline phones
had much bigger, much-more-forgiving speakers and the cupped
shape of the earpiece guided your ear into the right alignment.

But it is something you can get used to with a little practice.

Tesha

[Jim Sagle]

15. Good on me for switching to Comcast last week.

:beer:

[gimama]

19. what's a land line?

;) Actually, I HIGHLY suggest checking into CREDO Mobile..they are Progressive/Activist, & AWESOME.

[robo50]

59. A landline, is something like a 45 RPM ever seen one? LOL n/t

[frog92969]

21. Do I get a dicount if I record my own calls...

and mail them the tapes?

[harmonicon]

30. HA-HA!!

+1

[Robb]

43. Hahaha!! Nice. nt

[DollyM]

22. land lines are going the way of the dinosaurs anyway . . .

We dropped our land line two years ago and use trac phones. We live in a small community and EVERYTHING was long distance because they had their own phone company. Our phone bills averaged $80.00 a month and that was just calling the next town over 5 miles away. There was no option for savings so we finally had enough and just bought trac phones for each of us and have got along fine ever since. I bet we don't spend more than $20.00 a month between the two trac phones we have now. Most everyone that needs to get ahold of me just uses email anyway.

[Better Today]

23. My cell doesn't work at my home or home office. We're

up against foothills that block the signal for us a bit, and the house is wrapped in steel siding with a tall steel shop also potentially adding insult to injury. I will have a landline essentially forever.

Sometimes other people can get signal, but it is rare and intermittent at best. We can get texts, but sending texts and trying to converse are pretty much out of the question.

Fortunately I don't have AT&T landline nor are my rates being raised, as a matter of fact, I increased my internet speed and my bill went down $10, for a business line, internet, and the wireless router set up. Maybe because it's a business line, and it seems they are still chasing businesses to retain their landlines.

[SoCalDem]

24. They want people to drop it altogether, so everyone can pay through the nose for cellphones

I LOATHED AT&T..and when I quit them they OWED me almost $60 and it took me SIX MONTHS to finally get that refund

[Grinchie]

26. They gotta pay for all those On Demand Broadband Movies that nobody buys.

Or maybe their AT&T Death Star Credit Cards are defaulting a little higher than expected...

[WhiteTara]

28. don't they have to clear with the FCC or

some other entity? Or did * do away with that reg too?

[sandyj999]

36. I have been on the fence but I believe this just pushed me over!

My husband and I each have a cell phone. I am paying $65.00 for a landline. I have been trying to decide what I want to do but if this rate is raised my decision will be made. Many people I know have no land line anymore. My husband and I each have a cell phone. I am paying $65.00 for a land line. I have been trying to decide what I want to do but if this rate is raised my decision will be made. Many people I know have no land line anymore. I tried digital phone through my cable company but it went down twice the first two weeks, so that was ditched.

[tpsbmam]

38. Thus the reason so many have dropped their landlines

or have given the business to other companies, like the cable companies. AT&T never learns, it just goes through raising already high rates. That's how they lost my buiness. I'd have stayed lazily with them and then they got greedy once too often. They need to learn to be happy with a bird in the hand. It's when they go after that elusive bird they think is out there in the bush that they get into trouble. They're going to raise their rates so often they work themselves right out of business (hey, one can always hope).

[JerseygirlCT]

39. Guess I'll need to look at the cable company's plan again... nt

[BadgerKid]

48. Cable by us would be annoyingly expensive.

They (Comcast) appear to entice you into a cable tV plus internet package. Last I checked it was about $90/month. (I don't need cable, so I'm not interested.) Installation requires them to come install for you to the tune of an extra $100-200 or so. (I couldn't get the self-installation option that you often get with DSL.) Look into purchasing your own cable converter and, if applicable, wireless router, as opposed to renting their equipment.

[JerseygirlCT]

70. We've already got the tv and internet, so it would only mean

switching the phone over. It's just been the idea of having one provider for all of them that we haven't liked. At least when the internet is down, I can use the phone, and vice versa. But these days, that really doesn't matter quite as much, and frankly, the phone's been out more than the cable!

[RebelOne]

115. When I got my Comcast cable, the installation was free. nçt

[dysfunctional press]

50. we got the comcast bundle, and it's GREAT.

we're saving over $100/month versus having AT&T phone/dsl and directv.

[JerseygirlCT]

71. How long is the deal for, though?

I always see this small print (too small to read) on the commercials.

But, yeah, I'm sure we're currently overpaying for very little phone service (no id, for example). I'll have to look into it.

[dysfunctional press]

78. a year...

and when it's up, we'll switch to the at&t bundle for their introductory period...and by then, there maybe some better competition out there...:shrug:

[JerseygirlCT]

93. Yeah, that sounds smart

I'm probably way too lazy for that... which is also probably what they count on!

[druidity33]

113. often the promo is for a year

and the contract is for two! There's usually an opt out clause, but it will cost you a couple hundred bucks for contract cancellation. Look into the fine print...

I hope i haven't broken bad news...

:(

[kckc]

40. heh heh

I just cut off my ATT service yesterday in favor of my cell phone. I rarely use a phone anyway and it was ridiculous to keep paying them. Anyway, when I called to cancel, the service rep sounded like he was going to cry! He kept trying to sell other services and asking was I sure. Yes, ATT, I'm sure. I will survive without you.

[riverdeep]

41. I've been looking to get rid of my landline for some time.

I just have the most basic landline service and don't have any problems with cell reception, this might push me to do it.

I have a pay as you go cell service and just pay $20 every three months, as opposed to $24 a month for my very basic landline package. I also looked at a variety of internet based phone services like sipgate:

http://www.sipgate.com

They don't have the ability to have a local number in IL yet, so I'm only playing with it for now. They have CA numbers they give to users that don't have the ability to get a local number, but that means that anyone that calls me at that number is going to get charged for a long distance call. I can still make outgoing calls though. They do have local numbers for 19 states:

"We currently offer free numbers from 19 states including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Utah. We are continually adding new free numbers from across the US. At the moment it's not possible for us to give a date for when numbers from a specific state or city will become available. If a local number is not available for your state, just sign up for a California number and we'll notify you when a local number becomes available."

Just get a headset and a free open source softphone like Qute.com and you're good to go. They have emergency services to, for a small monthly fee. You only get charged 1.9 cents/minute for calls you make, incoming is free. What I especially like is the way your calls can be organized and managed, on your browser.

[Algorem]

44. invest in brain surgery futures or whatever.all those cellphone brain tumors.

[CountAllVotes]

47. ugh

you are right! I think I'll keep my limited service land line and just forget it!

:kick:

[Libertas1776]

58. I am still

skeptical of cell phones and their safety. I have one, but I rarely use it. It's land lines for me well into the foreseeable future.

[HillbillyBob]

49. We had Embarq, the line is buried under a quarter mile of our driveway

sorry service , we just have cell phones now. We had vonage for years, but it does not work with a satellite hook up.

[Lorien]

52. Thanks Vonage users! You've convinced me to make the switch

AT&T is such a ripoff!

[BrklynLiberal]

63. Hey Lorien.

How are the furguys? Hope they and you are doing well.

I have had Vonage for several years..and truly do not have any complaints.
Poster above said Vonage uses ATT lines and pays nothing to maintain them..and soon ATT will stop maintaining and/or Vonage users will have to cough up some sort of maintenance fee.

In the meantime, I can call virtually all over the world for 24.99/mth..(plus taxes, of course}

I would not want to go totally cell phone which I know a lot of people are doing because I am worried :tinfoilhat:
about what all that radiation would do to my brain. I cannot afford to lose any more brains cells at this point.

Seriously, I think that brain cancer will be epidemic in a decade or so considering how there are people that I see with the cell phone plastered to their ear ALL THE TIME!! Walking the dog, walking the baby, walking to the bus, on the bus, driving..whatever.....I think they are microwaving their brains.

I use my cell phone..of course...but not for extended periods..and certainly not the hours on end that I see around me.

Hope everyone in your furfamily is doing well.

[Lorien]

80. Hey BrklynLiberal!

Thanks for the heads up about it. Vonage should save me about $60 a month vs. AT&T!

The furkids are doing well. Pippin got a new buddy back in June; a little tuxedo fellow named Marrimack. They get along like peas and carrots! Oberon loves his Merry little Mack too, and Puck tolerates him...most of the time. ;-)

[BrklynLiberal]

86. I am so happy that you found someone for Pippin...a tuxedo seems to be the perfect choice

Of course Oberon loves him...he loves everyone...
Puck will just have to make the best of the situation :D

Love to see some pics of the boys when you have a chance....:loveya: :hug:

[JonQ]

56. Who uses landlines anymore?

Cellphones, that's the way to go.

[and-justice-for-all]

57. If you do not need it, then ditch it...

I have not had landline phone service for years, it is not needed for internet access either.

[Honeycombe8]

61. That sucks. And the workers were striking for lifelong insurance benefits.

How much would the rates have gone up, if they had gotten THAT?

[Eric_323]

62. I have been using ooma

for 3 weeks. Works as well as the Comcast VOIP service i had before.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10365149-1.html

[BrklynLiberal]

64. Just heard the very first commercial for them today.

Going to check out the link.


EDIT: Cool looking phone...but Vonage is cheaper and I get just about all the options they mention...
I have my old phone number...no charge.
The only thing I ever pay is 24.99/mth...and I use all my own phones..every phone in my house is hooked up to the modem from Vonage. The only drawback..which I think you would have too, is that if the electricity, and there for cable connection goes..so does my phone. If that does happen Vonage forwards the calls to my cell phone.

[Eric_323]

65. Yeah if the electricity goes out

the phone does to, but the grid around me is fairly stable. I also use my own phones, but decided not to keep my old number as it seemed like a hassle to port it. I was paying $40.00/mth with comcast, so i am just happy to be saving money.

[BrklynLiberal]

87. Is it cheaper with your own phones? The site said something about $249 startup +...

[Eric_323]

104. It's $250.00 for the hardware

It's $250.00 for the hardware, which is just the box not the extra phone thing. The box plugs in my router, then goes out to my phone lines. For the first year it is free domestic calls, not sure how much for international. After that year it is $11 a year for the same. If you want all the extras $120.00/year. They give you 2 months of the extras free, and after that time i will cancel them and expect to only have to pay the $11 next year. I don't make international calls. The only thing i need to worry about is if they go out of business.

[sabrina 1]

66. Very stupid business decision when cell phone companies,

like Virgin Mobile eg, are offering free calling 24/7 across the country for $49.00 and Skype and Magic Jack et al are making expensive landlines pretty much obsolete.

[jimlup]

68. Why the hell does anyone still have a landline?

Honestly?

[Tesha]

74. Folks may still have a landline because of:

1. Inertia

2. DSL

3. Cell phone service in their area is lousy

4. They like the wireline company better than they like the cell phone company

5. for the places and times and amounts they call, the deal they have with their
wireline company happens to be more economical for them than any deal
the cell phone company happens to be offering at the moment.

5. FAX

6. Concerns (real or not) about brain cancers

7. Technophobia

8. Just to piss you off.

Tesha

[eilen]

89. Some issues with alternatives...

My brother got the Magic Jack and the quality is not very good -- my niece called and she kept going in and out. I told her to call me back on my brother's cell and the reception was much better.

I have had that difficulty with Skype as well.

FWIW, we got rid of our cable land line-- tired of all the telemarketers. We use our cell phones. However, if we had a home based business, I think we would be getting a landline and not depend as much on on the cell. We don't have AT&T here, it is Verizon now. They just invested a lot of money in putting more lines in for their FIOS etc. in our area. I think they will soon be offering an alternative to our local cable company Time Warner (no Comcast).

I work with many homebound patients. They use the lifeline, ERS, and telemed monitors so need the land lines. They also live on SS or some type of public help and can hardly afford rate increases.

[Lorien]

81. I live in a very urban area and cell phone service is spotty

while I'm at home. Since I run my business out of my house I can't afford NOT to have a land line!

[MelissaB]

83. I've used Packet8 for two years, but really want to try the Ooma.

http://www.ooma.com/

There were some great specials recently, but I sat on the fence too long and missed out. Right now I pay $199/year for Packet8 which covers all calls into the US and Canada free and cheap rates to other countries.

[superconnected]

99. They don't mind the extra bill. It's sort of scary when people don't have cell phones now.

I just expect to call and reach everyone but then everyone I know has a phone on them.

[druidity33]

114. um, no other option? nt.

[Hosnon]

76. I thought that price was supposed to go down if demand went down.

:shrug:

Seems to me the company is trying to squeeze as much money as possible out of a dying service.

[IDemo]

91. Copper free since 2003

TracFone - buy minutes as needed, (which isn't often in my case).

Plus, it's too hard to drive while on the phone with that extension cord stretching out behind you. ;)

[Eurobabe]

92. Two words: Magic Jack

Works for me.

[chatnoir]

94. A month after we switched back to them

from the horrendous Comcast - fabulous!

We had no choice, though, as 90% of our calls were dropped on Comcast, then the 5 minute wait to get the phone signal back.

Or many times you would go to make a call and there would be no dial tone at all, forcing you to re-start the box.

The sound quality was usually abysmal as well, complete with voices going in and out, echoes, scrambled voices on our end, etc.

[rhett o rick]

96. Time for anti-trust legislation. nt

[superconnected]

98. Good luck cancelling - best thing I did was cancel my land line but it took

months because they kept not turning it off and billing me anyway - with no calls or land phone in the house. I fought many times with their customer service dept who wanted me to speak to several people about why I wanted to disconnect and tried to talk me out of it. It took nearly 6 months to finally get it where they turned my phone off and quit billing. My coworkers went through the same thing. I live in Everett, WA - 30 miles north of Seattle.

[Deja Q]

106. Yup. Cell phones are a want, not a necessity...

not when you nix payphones from 99.9% of all locales and then drive out the cost of landlines!

:dunce: