Home phone vs cell Phone: why do you need both?

5 minute read

Why keep both a landline and a mobile phone

In the days before cell phones, most homes had one landline that was shared between all family members. These days, many are choosing to forgo their landline in favor of cell phones. With a cell phone in almost every American’s pocket, many are wondering, is it necessary to have a landline phone? Well, don’t cut the phone cord just yet. You might be surprised to learn that there are still quite a few advantages of landline phone service.

What is a land phone?

A land phone, or landline, is a telephone service connected to your home through a physical wire, unlike a wireless cell phone.

How does a modern landline actually work?

Traditional landlines ran on copper wires through the Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN. Modern home phone service, like Spectrum Voice, works differently: it sends your calls digitally over an Internet connection instead of copper wires. Either way, you get the same dial tone and in-home phone jacks you're used to.

9 reasons to keep your landline when you already have a cell phone

A mobile phone doesn't have to replace your home phone. It works alongside it, which is why you might want to keep both. Here are 9 reasons a landline still earns its place next to your cell phone.

Back-up for power outages

Although cell phones run off a rechargeable battery, you might run out of juice during an extended power outage. A landline enables you to plug an older-style telephone straight into the phone jack – no power required. It also gives you another method of communication in case cell service is disrupted for any reason.

Some equipment still needs a landline

Many security systems require integration with a landline. Some can work with a cell signal, but it might not be as reliable as a landline. If you still use a fax machine, you’ll need a landline for that, too.

Simple communication

There are plenty of good reasons to have a cell phone, but some people prefer to just keep things simple and minimal. If you only use your phone to make phone calls, a landline might be your best option.

Feature-rich calling options

Landlines offer a lot of cool features you may not know about, including Caller ID on TV, VIP Ring, Block Anonymous Calls and readable voicemail.

No dropped calls

When was the last time you asked, “Can you hear me now?” during a call on a landline? Landlines offer some of the most reliable phone service you can get.

Relocate with confidence

Moving to a new home? Are you sure your cell provider has service in that area? Will you get good reception in the kitchen, bedroom, living room and anywhere else you might want to talk? Install a landline and you’ll never have to worry.

Emergency safety

If you ever need to call 911 for an emergency, the operator will know your exact location when you call from a landline. Calls from a cell phone are harder to locate.

Spectrum Voice also offers Emergency Call Alert, an optional feature exclusive to Spectrum that lets you notify up to five emergency contacts by text or email once a 911 call from your home phone lasts longer than 30 seconds. Once you turn it on and add your contacts, they're alerted after the call ends, so they know help was requested even if that person can't call or text separately.

Affordability

You probably won’t pay very much for your home phone service if you bundle with other services like TV and Internet. If you already have a bundle, cancelling your existing home phone service might increase the cost of your other services.

Improved sound quality

Nothing beats the clear, static-free reception of a landline. This can be helpful for those with those with hearing loss. Some home phones can even translate voicemails into large print text, another benefit for the hearing-impaired.

Now that you’ve learned the advantages of landline phone service, what do you think? Have you decided to keep your landline or sign up for new service?

Spectrum Voice^® offers reliable home phone service with no contracts. With free, unlimited calling throughout the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico and more – you can talk all you want with no added taxes or hidden fees. Check out the Spectrum Voice plans today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will landlines be phased out?

Traditional copper landlines are gradually being replaced by digital phone services, but home phone service is not disappearing. Many providers now offer home phone service over Internet or fiber networks, allowing households to continue enjoying reliable voice communication with modern features.

How do I know if a phone number is a landline or a cell phone?

The most reliable way is to use an online phone number lookup tool. Area codes used to indicate landline versus cell numbers, but that's no longer accurate since people can keep their number when switching phone types.

Does a landline need Internet to work?

It depends on the type. Old-style copper landlines don't need Internet, they run on their own dedicated line. Spectrum Voice^® works differently: it uses VoIP technology over Spectrum's own private network rather than your home Internet connection, so it isn't affected by public Internet issues the way many other VoIP services are.

Is it better to have a landline or cell phone?

Neither replaces the other completely. A cell phone offers portability, while a home phone offers reliability, direct 911 location accuracy and a backup connection when your mobile signal fails. Most households benefit from having both, rather than choosing one over the other.