Wireless Phones

Are you thinking of cutting the cord on your home phone and going totally wireless? You are not alone. According to a survey made by the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA), about 7.5 million Americans now rely on their wireless phones as their only phone. Out of this 7.5 million, it seems that a higher percentage tend towards the younger generation. There are no hard numbers of demographics of course but apparently, younger people with more mobile lifestyles are leading the charge in wireless phone usage.

“But what about the rest of us?” you ask. Obviously, the decision to go completely wireless with your phone is an individual one. However, if you can answer yes to some or all of the questions posed below, then you might be a good candidate.

Do I have a mobile lifestyle?

The primary purpose of wireless phones is to combine convenience and portability in one neat package. Hence, wireless phones are standing symbols of the mobile lifestyle. If you frequently travel or are out and about a great deal, then you are probably in the perfect position to cut the cord. Who needs a wired phone when most people you known reach you on your wireless phone?

Is my household small?

The main issue here is cost. Big household naturally means more rooms where you would need to install a phone. Let’s say, you have a spouse and two children and currently have a phone in each of four rooms. You can do this with a single wired line. But with wireless phones, you would need four separate phone lines and that could be costly. Some wireless phone companies actually offer family plans to reduce the cost for multiple cell phones in the household, but still, if you have a big household, the cost is still considerably higher compared to a single landline number.

Am I (or my family) light to moderate users of Telecom?

Telecom usage is another cost issue. Most landlines are priced at a flat “all-you-can-talk” rate. With wireless phones, the bill is often competitive with most landline bills. However, as you talk more, the cost increases. This is because wireless phones are charged at a per-minute basis. So if you want to get a wireless phone, make sure that your Telecom usage won’t be that big.

Am I okay with the occasional dropped call or bad reception?

This question deals mostly with the issue of reliability. When you pick up a landline, there is about 100% chance that you’re going to get a dial tone. Unfortunately, with wireless phones, the percentage might be a little lower.