Different Types Of Residential Telephone Service
Our parents, and their parents before them, had only one method for calling their friends and relatives. The technology was limited and the infrastructure that supported it was even more so. In those days, you would pick up your receiver, dial the number you wanted to reach, and speak to a human operator. The operator would connect you directly to the party you were calling, or to another operator for longer-distance connections. Your voice and the voice of the person to whom you were speaking traveled along copper wires.
As technology evolved, so too, did the options increase for placing calls. Today, there are a number of different ways to use your home telephone. This article will provide a brief overview of the various types of residential phone service, including landlines, VoIP, cell phones, and online options.
Home Landline Connection
Nearly everyone should have at least one landline connection in their residence. It’s reliable and works on the POTS system even in the event of a local power outage. Plans offered by telephone companies vary. Some plans only provide local calling privileges while others offer unlimited long-distance calling privileges.
Rates and fees also vary. Some providers charge a low monthly fee, but apply high per-minute rates for long-distance connections. Others charge higher monthly fees that may seem more expensive, but are actually more cost-effective due to unlimited long-distance calling privileges.
Voice Over Internet Protocol
VoIP service turns analog signals into digital form and transmits them over the internet. The advantage is that you can place unlimited interstate and international calls for free. The disadvantage is that your ability to place calls is limited to the stability of your online connection. If you lose your internet access, you will be unable to use VoIP service. Many consumers have discontinued their residential landline service only to discover they cannot use VoIP when their internet provider suffers a network outage.
Cell Phones
Cell phones continue to spread throughout society; it is a rare adult who doesn’t own one. Because they are so convenient and portable, many people have decided to give up their conventional POTS-based telephones. That is a bad idea. If your usage is high, you have children in your household, or tend to use your telephone during peak hours, a landline is usually more cost-effective. What’s more, cell phones do not operate on the traditional 9-1-1 emergency network.
You have several options for enjoying calling privileges at home. Oddly, though cellular technology and Voice Over Internet Protocol would seem to make traditional landlines less relevant, they have, in fact, underscored their importance. The POTS system is more reliable and connected to the 9-1-1 emergency calling platform. Plus, residential telephone service providers rarely charge extra fees for using the line during peak hours (as with cell phones). In the end, the POTS network may prove to be more resilient than most people fathom.
