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Why keeping your landline is a waste of money

<p>A <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>finder.com.au</strong></span></a> report has suggested that Australians remain surprisingly keen on landlines in 2017, despite the argument that these phones are becoming a waste of money.</p> <p>The survey, which investigate the communication habits of 2005 Australians, found that 55 per cent still retained the landline connection at their homes.</p> <p>Interestingly though, the survey also found when given the choice most of just will use our mobile phones. Only 29 per cent of people said they used their landlines regularly, while 13 per cent of people admitted to never using it.</p> <p>Angus Kidman, tech expert at finder.com.au, says, “Smartphones have become cheaper and cheaper to run, with most plans offering unlimited calls and texts, so it’s become a lot harder to justify keeping a landline.</p> <p>“Many Australians don’t want to pay a home phone bill and a mobile bill every month, and it’s easy to choose what they’ll ditch.”</p> <p>Mr Kidman also added that the incoming NBN network, which should be complete by 2020, is expected to replace most existing landlines anyway.</p> <p>Mr Kidman said, “Once the NBN comes through, I predict even more Aussies will ditch their landline phones. While many providers will offer phone services via an Internet connection – also known as VOIP – only a select few with fibre to the premises will have the option of a back-up battery service that will let them use their phone during a blackout.</p> <p>“For an increasing number of Aussies in every age bracket, the convenience of mobile phones means they never go near landlines.”</p> <p>Do you still use your landline? Or do you prefer to make calls with your mobile? </p>

Money & Banking

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Do you still need a landline?

<p>Almost everyone has a mobile phone these days. From school kids to great grandparents and everyone in between, we’ve become an increasingly mobile society. And why not? Mobile phone technology has come on in leaps and bounds and with increased reliability and coverage it may seem logical that there’s no longer any need for a landline. While this might be the case for some people, there are a few reasons why you might want to keep yours for a little longer.</p> <ol> <li>Emergency services can locate your house much more easily using a landline phone.</li> <li>Call costs are often cheaper especially for local calls.</li> <li>Internet access. If you download large amounts of data your wireless Internet might be sluggish and end up costing a significant amount of money. Phone line rental can end up being a cheaper option.</li> <li>If you use a fax machine you’ll always need a landline.</li> <li>Mobile phones in certain areas can be notoriously patchy. A landline generally doesn’t have this issue.</li> </ol> <p>If you’re someone who requires the above, keeping a landline might be in your best interests. An alternative to having a landline is something called a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which allows users to make calls over the internet very cheaply. The downside to this service is reliability issues centering on call connection and quality.</p> <p>Another option that can be useful is Skype, which allows you to make long distance and local calls as well as video chat with friends and loved ones. Before deciding what to do with your landline, consider how many long distance calls you make, how heavy your Internet usage is and what the reliability of your mobile network is like. This can help you make the best and most cost effective decision.</p> <p>Do you still have a landline installed in your home? Why or why not? Share your reasons in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/06/the-best-technology-for-keeping-in-touch/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The best technology for keeping in touch</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/05/hints-for-using-gmail/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 hints for using Gmail</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/05/trick-to-dramatically-free-up-storage-on-your-iphone/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>Trick to dramatically free up storage on your iPhone</em></strong></span></a></p>

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