As we rely more and more on our cell phones for our calling, many of us are considering "cutting the cord", in other words dropping our home wireline phones, to cut costs. By one estimate as many as 10% of wireless customers (about 7 million callers) have already done so. But a wireless phone is not just like your home phone.
Cutting the cord has risks. Consider the following:
• Price: A traditional phone account will generally cost less unless you frequently make long distance calls or have many additional features, such as caller ID. In most parts of the country consumers pay a flat rate for your traditional phone – the same fee no matter how much you use it. Most wireless plans include a limited number of minutes and get expensive when you exceed your limit. Incoming calls usually deplete your cell phone minutes. Carefully consider how much you will use the phone and whether the wireless plan includes a sufficient number of minutes for incoming as well as outgoing calls.
• Safety: If you dial 911 from your home wireline phone, the emergency operators can immediately pinpoint your location. The equivalent system for cell phones, E-911, is not up and running in much of the U.S. Check to see if you have E-911 fully functional in your area.
• Service: Wirelines are still clearer and rarely disconnect. Also, there is generally less risk that wireline phones will break, run out of battery life, or be unable to find a signal. This can be very important in emergency situations or other times when phone use is essential.
