Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: VOIP

Call me crazy, but you all say that "if the power goes out, I'll just use my cell"...well why not JUST use your cell? That's what I do. I haven't had a home phone "land line" for the last couple years. What's the point?

I have VOIP here in Quebec with Videotron and the only time a power outage will affect the phones from working is if the outage is more than 8 to 10 hours. The cable modem that is installed has a batterie backup included.

In reply to:

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I haven't had a home phone "land line" for the last couple years. What's the point?

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Don't you have one for the TiVo? Or are the standalone TiVos now all networked?

Reasons not to use a cell:

1. I don't get good reception in my house.

2. The cell is a work phone, so I try to limit my personal use. I don't have a personal cell phone (I don't see a need for two cells).

Reasons not to use a cell:

1. I don't get good reception in my house.

2. The cell is a work phone, so I try to limit my personal use. I don't have a personal cell phone (I don't see a need for two cells).

3. Even when there is good reception, the sound quality is not as good as a land line.

Sorry, meant to edit that first one, not double post.

Based on my life, a cell phone as my only telephone just won't cut it. The two main reasons are cost and flexibility. In order to obtain a plan that would have enough minutes, er hours, to suit my families telephone needs, I would have to dish out an enormous sum of money, definitely > $12.50/mth for VOiP. I require the flexibility of having multiple phones, in different areas of the house, (ex: basement, garage, workshop etc.). Also, as mentioned above, purchasing movies and changing programming on my Express Vu requires a landline. To me, it would be a pain to have to ensure the battery on a cell phone is ALWAYS charged. Being away on business a lot, and requiring my cell phone, would leave my family phoneless. However, I could get multiple cell phones on the same plan, but again, costs would get out of hand pretty quick. Finally, the geek factor of VOiP is reason enough to get it. It's fun to play with QOS, receiving voicemails via email etc.

I use a cell phone at home and my girlfriend uses her own. We have a cable modem for internet along with cable TV service (she likes the cable TV, I think its a waste).

When making international calls, I use a calling card that is VOIP. It is very inexpensive. I guess it works good but I don't really know because the only time I use it is to call countries with less than stellar infrastructure.

then there is that radiation thing with cellphones........

I remember during the early 90's when everyone was afraid of cellular RF radiation. I worked at US WEST Cellular then and employees where afraid of losing their jobs over the RF Radiation news and I must admit that it was a little scary to think that a little device near your head could potentially cause tumors.
I was one of those guys that had to carry one of those huge putty colored "brick" phones every place and if you had to you could mug someone with it or use it as a hammer . Thank goodness for technology.
My personal opinion is that cell phones remove a layer of privacy from a person's life it might sound ridiculous but I can't count how many times over the years that my job or worse (my ex-wife) has been able to contact me at 3:00 AM . Needless to say, the cell phone in my opinion is a pain in the rear but a necessary tool unfortunately.

End miniature RANT