A landline is a telephone that transmits signals converted from an audio data through a physical media, such as wire or fiber optic cable. This process happens opposite to a mobile signal, which is sent through wireless transmission.

The word landline is sometimes used to refer to a dedicated line, meaning a connection between two locations. In recent times, the term has been used to differentiate home phones from mobiles phones.

This type of home phone might still use cable, or a digital network to make calls. They often come with more modern features, such as Caller ID, Call Waiting and Three-Way Calling, depending on the plan you choose.

It is true that the main communication device today is the cellphone, and landline phones are easier to come across in office buildings than inside households. But they offer several advantages, as listed above, that mobiles don’t, such as faster responses to 911 emergencies, since they are connected to your address and even your apartment number.

As mentioned before, home phones have better sound quality than cell phones. The chances of getting your calls dropped or experiencing delays are lower too. But they are also ergonomically ideal. Their curved headsets place the receiver near the user’s ear and its microphone near the mouth, making it excellent to increase performance and avoid background noises. This kind of convenience ends up being sacrificed for smartphones’ one-in-all usability.

Many home security services require a landline phone connection as a main base or backup for companies to get in touch with their customers. It also saves money while hiring this type of service.

Most companies offer discounts for TV, internet and phone service bundles. These can be cheaper than standalone plans. Sharing one home landline is a more effective way to save money than having multiple mobile lines for each person of your household.

If you have children in your household, landline phones are a great backup for them. In case of an emergency, they will know how to dial 911, which is faster than unlocking or finding a missing cellphone.

While many employees are heading back to their offices to work, several people are still working from home, and intend to keep doing so. Having a landline is a great option, especially if you work with customer service, or if you have your own business and will need to receive calls. Landline numbers give more credibility to companies, are less likely to get their signal disrupted, and provide better audio quality during calls.

Nowadays, most phones have modern features that integrate easily with other devices in your home. Our experts are ready to help you find the most practical and cost-effective service for you.

Having a landline in your household can be a proof of your residence for credit and legal purposes.

If you have never lost your mobile phone, you probably know someone who have. Having a home phone is a way for people to reach you in case that happens. Besides, if you can’t find your cellphone at home, you can call it from your landline number. Other than that, some people, including the elderly, may have difficulties using smartphones. Landline phone usability is as straightforward as they come.

If you make several international calls a month, having a landline is definitely the cheapest option for your home, even if you have to pay an additional fee. Look for providers that offer this feature.

During a power outage, due to storm, snow, or any other reason, landline phones are reliable. Since they don’t require electricity to work, and It is possible that mobile phones don’t work at times like these, you can use your phone as a form of communication if you need to. Note that cordless phones, however, will require power to work.

Some internet types such as DSL and dial-ups require a phone line, but not all of them. Certain DSL providers don’t need a landline to get internet access. This happens because DSL connections use different frequency bands than home phones. Dial-ups on the other hand, must have an active home phone to work properly.

It is true that most phone plans today are available as an add-on service for TV and internet providers. But there are certain companies that offer standalone plans for your household, and making an additional purchase is not necessary. Take a look at these options:

• CenturyLink – Starting at $23.34/mo.*
• Cox – Starting at $29.99/mo.*
• Spectrum – Starting at $29.99/mo.*
• Verizon Fios –
• Starting at $20/mo.*

*Additional fees may apply. All prices may vary at any time.

You probably heard of most of these features, but do they mean, exactly? Check out our glossary for the most common types.

Caller ID – see the name and telephone of the person who’s calling you on the screen.

Speed dialing – save frequently called numbers, like emergencies, friends, family or colleagues, with only one or two digits. Call waiting – if you get an incoming call while talking to someone else, the call waiting feature will alert you with a beep. That way, you can put the first person on hold while you take the second call.

Call Waiting ID – you can identify the name and number of an incoming call while you are on another one.

Do not disturb – this feature allows you to choose when not to receive calls, avoiding interruptions when you need to focus, for example.

Anonymous Call Rejection – reject anonymous calls without an ID number. Tip: callers can prevent their number from being identified by adding *67 (or *82) while dialing your number. That way, your phone won’t ring, and the caller will be notified your landline blocks anonymous calls. They must try again without the additional numbers.

Conference call – have a group call by adding other parties to your conversation.

Busy number redial – allows you to keep trying a busy number for up to thirty minutes, even if you are on another call. When that line is no longer busy, you’ll get a distinctive ring, and the call will be placed for you when you pick up the phone. This works for both long distance and local lines.

Call Return – if you missed an incoming call, this feature identifies and automatically redials the last caller on your line.

Although home phones have gone digital for quite a while, there are still several options amongst them to choose from.

Hardwire digital connection – available through well-known companies such as AT&T and Verizon, this is the traditional wire phone you’re familiar with. But technology has brought new advanced features for these models, making your home a more connected space.

Satellite connection – as with TV and internet, satellite home phones bring all the features you need from this device, but is able to cover more remote areas throughout the country.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) connection – this technology allows consumers to make calls via a broadband Internet connection, instead of a traditional landline. VoIP connection converts the voice signal used in the standard home phones into a digital one. This is sent through the internet instead of an analog device. Also, with VoIP it is possible to have your phone data connected with every other internet connected device in your home, allowing call IDs to be displayed all over your devices.

Nowadays, getting the best deal for your home phone is easier and cheaper than ever. Having all your communication devices connected through your landline makes everything more practical.

Your internet won’t get disrupted as long as you have a wireless, DSL, fiber, satellite, or cable connection. Dial-ups, on the other hand, uses your phone line to connect to the internet. So you may lose access to the internet while using your phone, and vice-versa.

Although it seems like a thing of the past at first, home phones are a great backup communication to rely on, and it can make a difference when portable devices fail to work