Landline Phones

[Alan]

I think there are some transactions where email is not allowed, either legally or that organization's policy.


Yes, I think that's crazy and outdated, but if they require it, we are not likely to be able to fight it, at least not in the time frame we would need it.

But it never hurts to ask - I think some one else mentioned it, and it was my experience that after they asked for a fax, I suggested emailing a pdf, and that was OK too. Kinda surprising that would not be offered up front, it's not 1990.

DW seems to d a fair amount of faxing at work, I don't get it.

There are also sometimes the option of a 'secure' email, where you submit the document at their site, rather than through actual email. Always ask.

-ERD50

I would think most financial institutions have secure message systems these days as they are keen to reduce costs of mailing out documents. e.g. I get emails from my banks in the US and UK and from Vanguard telling when a bank or credit card statement or transaction confirmation is ready. I can then log onto their site to view and/or download a pdf of the statement.

 

[JoeWras]

Why does it bother people when others have landlines? I'm sure it's less than 50% who have a strong need for one due to poor cell service or other reasons, but who cares?

Good question. You hear this a lot, and it almost does seem to bother people in that they want you to defend what they perceive to be your old fashioned ways. Not just on this board either. I hear this a lot from church friends my age.

It almost comes across as: "Poor JW, you are living in the dark ages. Haven't you heard about cell phones? I'm saving so much money. Why are you wasting yours?"

 

[timo2]

We gave our last land line phone that did not require an electrical plug to a household that lived in an area with frequent power outages. Recall the old phones would stay working in a power outage. That in itself is a valuable thing for many people.

 

[Cobra9777]

Here are a few reasons we keep a landline:

1. It's free (Google Voice+Obi200).
2. Makes use of our existing landline phones... 2 bases, 5 cordless handsets.
3. Our house is 4500 sqft, so unless you carry the cell phone everywhere you go, you might not hear it ring.
4. Our cell signal is weak at the house, but the landline phones use our home ISP, which is far more reliable.
5. We use Ting who charges for actual usage, so cell voice minutes cost extra, while the landline is free.
6. Cell battery will sometimes be dead for hours before I notice, or I've left it on silent.

 

[Gumby]

Good question. You hear this a lot, and it almost does seem to bother people in that they want you to defend what they perceive to be your old fashioned ways. Not just on this board either. I hear this a lot from church friends my age.

It almost comes across as: "Poor JW, you are living in the dark ages. Haven't you heard about cell phones? I'm saving so much money. Why are you wasting yours?"

Why do I have POTS? For the same reason that all my home phones but one are dial phones - because I like it that way. No one else needs to do it my way and I don't need to do it their way. (Yes, I also do have a smart phone).

 

[COcheesehead]

FAX on POTS is arguably much more secure, however.

I assume all my “secrets” are known and have taken steps to protect myself from that point. It takes a lot of the brain pain out of life.

 

[JoeWras]

because I like it that way. No one else needs to do it my way and I don't need to do it their way.

Right on.

Next in line of complaints:

• Why would anyone have a manual transmission?
• Why do you still cut your grass using a rotary gas mower?
• Who would ever want a 2 story house?
• Why would anyone live in the suburbs?
• Why would anyone keep their brown real wood paneling?
• For that matter, why haven't you painted everything gray yet?
• Etc....

 

[marko]

I still have a landline phone as I think there still are some advantages than going mobile only.

1) When talking, especially on long calls, I prefer to have a phone with a better grip and fits my face better than a flat shaped smartphone.

2) A landline is constantly plugged in, so I don't have to keep having the battery run down, then charge up again

3) My current service (Ooma) has the Telo device which has physical buttons that operates like an old fashioned answering machine. No inconvenience dialing in to retrieve my voicemails. I just look at a button that flashes with I have a message. Press, that to play, or while playing press a delete button.

+1 Also, we turn off our cell phones at night as they recharge so in the event of an emergency having the landline is handy. We now have only one person call us on the landline (plus 100 robo calls).

Unlike our cells, our landline is also connected to our address in the case of a 911 call.

We've had Vonage for 15 years now and the cost is negligible.

And as you said, our cell coverage can be spotty some days (especially during a heavy rain/snow storm) so the landline works no matter what.

 

[Nemo2]

[*]Why would anyone have a manual transmission?

I know that one, I know that one......"Why would anyone have anything else?"

 

[jim584672]

Why do I have POTS? For the same reason that all my home phones but one are dial phones - because I like it that way. No one else needs to do it my way and I don't need to do it their way. (Yes, I also do have a smart phone).

Saving on that touch tone service fee with those rotary phones, smart.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

I have one more to reason to add to Cobra9777s list. This is a silly reason but it's a legitimate one for me. I have 7 digit dialing on a local call on my home landline. My google Voice is set up in OBI so I never have to dial the 3 digit local area code or the 1 for long distance. Yes I know that most numbers are saved in our phones these days but it's just a time saver for me anytime I do have to dial an unsaved number. It's so annoying when I make a local call on my cellphone and have to dial the extra 3 digits, I frequently forget.

 

[JoeWras]

Saving on that touch tone service fee with those rotary phones, smart.

Dang, you just made me flashback to my ultra LBYM years fresh out of school. There was no way I was paying $5 a month just to hear tones!

 

[Nemo2]

Dang, you just made me flashback to my ultra LBYM years fresh out of school. There was no way I was paying $5 a month just to hear tones!

I recall the 'touchtone' pads available for phones in areas served by Step-By-Step central offices....it had the buttons but users were still obliged to wait for the mechanical equipment to process the call.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Right on.

Next in line of complaints:

• Why would anyone have a manual transmission?
• Why do you still cut your grass using a rotary gas mower?
• Who would ever want a 2 story house?
• Why would anyone live in the suburbs?
• Why would anyone keep their brown real wood paneling?
• For that matter, why haven't you painted everything gray yet?
• Etc....

I love my manual transmission 2004 PT Cruiser, it's far faster on takeoff than an automatic and better gas mileage. Plus the people that feel the need to question me are usually to stupid to figure out how to drive a stick shift. My other two cars are both newer with automatic trannys but my PT Cruiser is still my favorite it's fun to drive and I just can't bring myself to sell it. It's great car for hauling stuff, it's so versatile you can haul out or fold the back seats up easily and make a huge area for the dogs. I once hauled a 36" exterior front door with frame home from Lowes in it.

 

[RobbieB]

I just ordered me another analog LL phone. Got 5 of 'em inna house. Don't have to go far and don't have to carry the expensive one all the time.

 

[Walt34]

We have a landline because cell phones sometimes work around here and sometimes they don't.

Landline works.

If it ain't broke I see no need to fix it.

And get off my lawn.

 

[Gumby]

I love my manual transmission 2004 PT Cruiser, it's far faster on takeoff than an automatic and better gas mileage. Plus the people that feel the need to question me are usually to stupid to figure out how to drive a stick shift. My other two cars are both newer with automatic trannys but my PT Cruiser is still my favorite it's fun to drive and I just can't bring myself to sell it. It's great car for hauling stuff, it's so versatile you can haul out or fold the back seats up easily and make a huge area for the dogs. I once hauled a 36" exterior front door with frame home from Lowes in it.

We have three cars and all are manual transmission. When I bought the Subaru Forester in December 2017, it was the only manual on the entire lot. When we bought the MINI Cooper for the young wife this June, we had to special order it from England to get a manual. And, of course, the 2001 Z3 roadster has a manual.

 

[cathy63]

I like you're way better so is this a permanent setup with a line splitter or just when you need to send or receive a fax you switch the cords? I was looking at having to set it up in the OBI menu on a different SP since the OBI200 only has one phone jack in the back. Occasionally a bank will want me to fax something although they usually will allow e-mail if I ask.

The splitter is built into the printer/fax. Have a look at the back of yours and you should see that there are two jacks. Connect the Obi to the line or input jack and then connect the phone to the ext or output jack.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

The splitter is built into the printer/fax. Have a look at the back of yours and you should see that there are two jacks. Connect the Obi to the line or input jack and then connect the phone to the ext or output jack.

It sure does, thank you so much. I've learned so much on this site in the few short months that I've been here and I'm sure there's lots more to learn.
Have a great day.

 

[Car-Guy]

Our analog land line works well with my birthday present the DW gave me this year. Refurbished (like new) fully functional, and looks great in my man cave.

 

[TrvlBug]

Our analog land line works well with my birthday present the DW gave me this year. (stock photo below) Refurbished (like new) fully functional, and looks great in my man cave.

I want one of those!!!

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Our analog land line works well with my birthday present the DW gave me this year. (website photo below) Refurbished (like new) fully functional, and looks great in my man cave.

Very Cool....

 

[MRG]

We have a landline because cell phones sometimes work around here and sometimes they don't.

Landline works.

If it ain't broke I see no need to fix it.

And get off my lawn.

+1

I recently upgraded our landline phone. It gets more use than the cells. When tourists arrived this year it seems Verizon had miscalculated their ability to serve their customers. We didn't have cell phones for almost a month. Other hardware issues have taken our cells out for a week.

 

[COcheesehead]

Right on.

Next in line of complaints:

• Why would anyone have a manual transmission?
• Why do you still cut your grass using a rotary gas mower?
• Who would ever want a 2 story house?
• Why would anyone live in the suburbs?
• Why would anyone keep their brown real wood paneling?
• For that matter, why haven't you painted everything gray yet?
• Etc....

This is fodder for its own thread. Too much good stuff here to get buried in this thread. I can think of at least a dozen things to add....

 

[Ronstar]

We have a landline because our cell phones seldom work in the house.