You moved. Which is better now, landline phone or cell phone?

According to statistics, 1 out of 6 American households gave up the use of their landlines and now are using mobile phones. And if you’re one of the millions of Americans contemplating on the benefits and downsides of a landline against a mobile phone, you might want to consider these points before finally deciding which best fits you.

The Cost

The usual reason why people choose mobile phone is that mobile phones (in most areas) have cheaper plans compared to that of the landlines especially when moving far away and you need a long distance plan. However, the monthly payment quoted by many mobile phone and landline carriers can be very misleading. You may want to consider these factors when weighing your options:
  • Do you need any services not covered in your cell phone plan, like roaming services or does your landline plan includes voice mail and caller ID?

  • Does your mobile phone plan require years of lock-in period and if yes, how much it will cost you to terminate your contract?

  • How much time you consume talking on the line or when do you usually make your calls. Free incoming or weekend and night promos are useless if you make many outbound calls during regular business hours.

  • Can mobile phone family plan ensure that everyone in your family gets a line? What if you have a large family? Sometimes a cell phone family plan goes beyond the cost of one residential landline.

Your Lifestyle

People may have different reasons why they want to use cell phones rather than a landline. Better ask yourself which best suits your lifestyle.
  • Are you the type of person who is always on the go? Do you frequently travel for meetings or trips abroad but you want to be easily reached by your clients and your family? Or are you the type of person who wants to limit their calls?

  • Can you regularly secure that your batteries are fully charged? What if there was an emergency, what if you fail to charge the batteries?

Functionality during Emergencies

There is a big difference how mobile phones and landlines function during emergencies. Your mobile phone serves you well if the accident happened while you’re away from home, you can easily call for help. However unlike your landline phone, your address is not visible to the operator and depending on your subscription your mobile phone number may not be visible as well.

During power outage, your mobile phone will continuously work until the battery lasts, but what if the power is out for extended period?

And lastly, you may want to consider who is going to use the phone. Some says that it is easier teaching kids to dial 911 using the landline compared to mobile phones. And if you have an elderly at home, you may want to ask them which is more convenient for them to use, you can even request for specially made mobile phones for the elderly.

Other Considerations

Before you finally decide whether to get a cell phone or a landline, you may want to reconsider how you currently use your landline service.
  • Do you use your landline for your home security? Can you redirect it in your mobile phone?
  • Are you currently using your landline phone to send and receive faxes for your business?
  • Are you using your landline for your internet connection?

Both your landline and mobile phones have benefits and downsides each may outweigh the other. In the long run, it is still you who can decide which type of phone suits your needs and your preferences.