The couple belongs to the growing number of cell-savvy Americans who, 125 years after Alexander Graham Bell set up the first local- telephone exchange, are abandoning their home land lines for good. In a recent report the Yankee Group, a research firm, reported that 4 percent of Americans say their wireless phone is their only phone, up from 3 percent last year. And that percentage was three times higher for adults under the age of 24. But what’s really got traditional local carriers concerned is that some 15 percent, or 6 million users, plan to “cut the cord” over the next five years. Christine Bruno of New York doesn’t necessarily dislike the local phone company; but she loves the $2,000 a year she says she saves in local and long-distance charges. That “can turn into other things,” she says.
The wireless life isn’t for everyone. Sure, it’s great for cell-phone addicts who travel a lot, have cable Internet access in their home and get good wireless reception in their neighborhood. But if you have small kids or can envision an emergency scenario in which you might need to reach for the home phone and dial 911, it’s probably not for you. (Police can pinpoint your location when you call 911 over a land line, but not yet over your cell phone.) You also have to be savvy at keeping down the size of your cell-phone bill. (Shop for wireless-service plans in your area at getconnected.com.)
The local telcos are getting the message. In a recent newsletter sent to its subscribers in New York City, Verizon argued, “It’s easy to take something as common as your home phone line for granted.” The letter went on to point out that cell phones can run out of battery power at inopportune times, and that mobile-phone networks can get overloaded in emergencies. “We just wanted to point out that your land line phone works really well,” says Verizon VP Jill Wagner.
No wonder the telcos are anxious: the number of land lines in use has been declining since 2001 as Americans ditch fax machines for e-mail and DSL replaces the need for second lines. Last week’s new phone- portability rules, which let users take their phone numbers from their home to their cell phones, make cutting the cord even more attractive. Brian Hoyt and Stephanie Thomas understand the arguments of the local telcos. After Hurricane Isabel crashed onto the East Coast in September, the cell-phone reception at their home was frustratingly spotty for three weeks. They almost surrendered and had a land line installed, but then AT&T Wireless repaired its network and all was forgiven. Today Hoyt is almost evangelical about going cordless. Dropping his land line has made life simpler: “It’s like being able to consolidate your 15 remote controls.” Just don’t lose your cell phone.
