Comments on: The long slow death of the landline http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 10:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jeremy Ward http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617471 Jeremy Ward Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617471  True enough, but even if you're not in prison, and say, in the drunk tank at your local county jail, your stay will be long extended if you don't have  buddy with a land line.Makes it MUCH harder to contact the outside world if your arrested for any reason, such as peaceful protest, etc...  True enough, but even if you’re not in prison, and say, in the drunk tank at your local county jail, your stay will be long extended if you don’t have  buddy with a land line.Makes it MUCH harder to contact the outside world if your arrested for any reason, such as peaceful protest, etc…

]]> By: parfae http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617465 parfae Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617465 So, what are you doing on here, then? So, what are you doing on here, then?

]]> By: Mike B http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617343 Mike B Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617343  I have kept my phone number since '99 and have no plans to give it up. When we abandoned our landline my partner ported the home number and still has it. It is no problem to port the number at all.  I have kept my phone number since ’99 and have no plans to give it up. When we abandoned our landline my partner ported the home number and still has it. It is no problem to port the number at all.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617310 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617310 Not <em>all</em> of their landlines; but it isn't terribly uncommon to see, in businesses large enough for the savings to outweigh the setup costs, that almost all the handsets on the desks are just sitting behind the PBX and that the PBX is handling most of its traffic through VOIP with just a few 'backup' copper lines left. It will be interesting to see if this eventually causes the telephone guys to start pricing the remaining lines like high-reliability backups, since they are no longer being subsidized by nearly as many lines paying the same price to handle low priority chatter. Not all of their landlines; but it isn’t terribly uncommon to see, in businesses large enough for the savings to outweigh the setup costs, that almost all the handsets on the desks are just sitting behind the PBX and that the PBX is handling most of its traffic through VOIP with just a few ‘backup’ copper lines left.

It will be interesting to see if this eventually causes the telephone guys to start pricing the remaining lines like high-reliability backups, since they are no longer being subsidized by nearly as many lines paying the same price to handle low priority chatter.

]]> By: L_Mariachi http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617143 L_Mariachi Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617143 House engulfed in flames?  Sack up and put it out yourself!  Fatal multi-car pileup?  Learn advanced emergency medicine and take care of all the survivors yourself, pantywaist! No wonder you didn't make any "social connection." House engulfed in flames?  Sack up and put it out yourself!  Fatal multi-car pileup?  Learn advanced emergency medicine and take care of all the survivors yourself, pantywaist!

No wonder you didn’t make any “social connection.”

]]> By: Hippo http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617111 Hippo Sat, 29 Dec 2012 09:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617111 Unfortunately the POTS network (Plain old telephone system) isn't as bulletproof as it once was, in most areas it has been upgraded to fibre lines up to the last mile, meaning they often only have a 2 or 4 hour emergency battery and then will be offline.  On top of this, I can't count the number of people who forget to keep a basic no frills corded phone in the house so when the power goes out and their base station with it, none of their cordless home phones work. That being said, it's always good to have a backup, especially if you rely on your phone for work. Unfortunately the POTS network (Plain old telephone system) isn’t as bulletproof as it once was, in most areas it has been upgraded to fibre lines up to the last mile, meaning they often only have a 2 or 4 hour emergency battery and then will be offline.  On top of this, I can’t count the number of people who forget to keep a basic no frills corded phone in the house so when the power goes out and their base station with it, none of their cordless home phones work.

That being said, it’s always good to have a backup, especially if you rely on your phone for work.

]]> By: Gyrofrog http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617087 Gyrofrog Sat, 29 Dec 2012 08:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617087 Yeah, I couldn't get any bars at my job in Rockville, MD.  I complained to Verizon and they said Rockville was a "marginal area" and they had no plans to improve the signal there.  I dropped VZ like a sack full o' VD. Yeah, I couldn’t get any bars at my job in Rockville, MD.  I complained to Verizon and they said Rockville was a “marginal area” and they had no plans to improve the signal there.  I dropped VZ like a sack full o’ VD.

]]> By: Work_Watch_Buy_Repeat http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617056 Work_Watch_Buy_Repeat Sat, 29 Dec 2012 06:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617056 What's nice about landlines is that they are designed to degrade gracefully in an emergency.  If a landline's central office switch is overloaded, you won't get dial tone initially -- but you will be put in a queue to get dial tone, and you'll be able to place a phone call eventually if you just keep the phone off hook and wait for the dial tone.  When a cell tower is overloaded, there's no queuing: you simply aren't going to get through until the overload subsides; and when the 2-hour battery at your local cell site runs out, the point is moot anyway. That's the nice thing about using infrastructure that was actually *designed* to work as a life-safety system in trans- and post-disaster scenarios, rather than something designed as a consumer-grade toy.   Nobody builds stuff as bulletproof as the Bell System anymore. What’s nice about landlines is that they are designed to degrade gracefully in an emergency.  If a landline’s central office switch is overloaded, you won’t get dial tone initially — but you will be put in a queue to get dial tone, and you’ll be able to place a phone call eventually if you just keep the phone off hook and wait for the dial tone.  When a cell tower is overloaded, there’s no queuing: you simply aren’t going to get through until the overload subsides; and when the 2-hour battery at your local cell site runs out, the point is moot anyway.

That’s the nice thing about using infrastructure that was actually *designed* to work as a life-safety system in trans- and post-disaster scenarios, rather than something designed as a consumer-grade toy.  

Nobody builds stuff as bulletproof as the Bell System anymore.

]]> By: Tex_Dude http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617031 Tex_Dude Sat, 29 Dec 2012 04:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617031 Misleading article - should be "Long slow death of landline in residential".  I doubt most businesses would give up their landline and the 5 9's reliability (99.999% uptime).   Misleading article – should be “Long slow death of landline in residential”.  I doubt most businesses would give up their landline and the 5 9′s reliability (99.999% uptime).  

]]> By: Mace Moneta http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1617000 Mace Moneta Sat, 29 Dec 2012 04:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1617000 I pay $19/month for unlimited, unthrottled, and uncapped voice, data, and text through Republic Wireless.  Your 'landline', if bundled with your Internet, is actually VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) instead of POTS (plain old telephone service). I pay $19/month for unlimited, unthrottled, and uncapped voice, data, and text through Republic Wireless.  Your ‘landline’, if bundled with your Internet, is actually VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) instead of POTS (plain old telephone service).

]]> By: Erik Dillon http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616995 Erik Dillon Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616995 Yeah, there was a lot of everything out. Cell phones were not that bad off, you just had to charge them, which would have been the same problem I would have had at home because I only had a wireless home phone for the last few years I even had a landline.  Yeah, there was a lot of everything out. Cell phones were not that bad off, you just had to charge them, which would have been the same problem I would have had at home because I only had a wireless home phone for the last few years I even had a landline. 

]]> By: Cobra Choppergirl http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616984 Cobra Choppergirl Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616984 I got news for you folks, you don't need a cell phone either.  You can get rid of it too.  Be ahead of the curve.  I've been internet only for as long back as I can remember.   Don't watch TV, or use faxes, or transmit in morse code either.  Imagine that.    I will even go further and say, you don't even need internet, for the most part its a 'sophisticated tv' and a total waste of time.    You can be 100% communication free, and its nice and quiet.  Gone are anybody... anybody at all.. calling out of the blue at any time of the day convenient for them... trying to make their stupid problems, your problems.  Gone are the wasting of countless hours playing video games, dialing up with modems, posting comments to Youtube videos that nobody reads, running out of the shower to catch a call on your cell phone that is a wrong number. Once you go completely free, you realize, you didn't need all that... crap.. it was all an illusion.  It was no social connection at all, nor was it a safety net at all.  In all my life time, I have never called 911... and if I had an emergency, that would be the last thing I'd do.  Instead, I'd do what I always do... and what you should do too... handle it.     Have a flat tire on the side of the road?  Don't be a baby and call mommy or the calvary.  Handle it.  Change it.   Brake line blow out on you, or battery dead at work?  Handle it.    Now I sneer at people who, whenever they need information or have a teeny tiny emergency, immediately start dialing someone. I mean, seriously. Stop. Being. Helpless. Handle it. Its not that hard. Learn how. Once you know you can handle anything, anything at all, you're not afraid of anything anymore. Cut the cord and cut the wifi signal and cut the cell tower link. I got news for you folks, you don’t need a cell phone either.  You can get rid of it too.  Be ahead of the curve.  I’ve been internet only for as long back as I can remember.   Don’t watch TV, or use faxes, or transmit in morse code either.  Imagine that.    I will even go further and say, you don’t even need internet, for the most part its a ‘sophisticated tv’ and a total waste of time.   

You can be 100% communication free, and its nice and quiet.  Gone are anybody… anybody at all.. calling out of the blue at any time of the day convenient for them… trying to make their stupid problems, your problems.  Gone are the wasting of countless hours playing video games, dialing up with modems, posting comments to Youtube videos that nobody reads, running out of the shower to catch a call on your cell phone that is a wrong number.

Once you go completely free, you realize, you didn’t need all that… crap.. it was all an illusion.  It was no social connection at all, nor was it a safety net at all.  In all my life time, I have never called 911… and if I had an emergency, that would be the last thing I’d do.  Instead, I’d do what I always do… and what you should do too… handle it.     Have a flat tire on the side of the road?  Don’t be a baby and call mommy or the calvary.  Handle it.  Change it.   Brake line blow out on you, or battery dead at work?  Handle it.   
Now I sneer at people who, whenever they need information or have a teeny tiny emergency, immediately start dialing someone. I mean, seriously. Stop. Being. Helpless. Handle it. Its not that hard. Learn how. Once you know you can handle anything, anything at all, you’re not afraid of anything anymore. Cut the cord and cut the wifi signal and cut the cell tower link.

]]> By: Linda Reinhart http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616963 Linda Reinhart Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616963 In a SHTF-type catastrophic event when reality negates all phone, media and utility regardless, HAM radio will prove itself center-stage hero and this is being overlooked/underrated ~ In a SHTF-type catastrophic event when reality negates all phone, media and utility regardless, HAM radio will prove itself center-stage hero and this is being overlooked/underrated ~

]]> By: Mark schweigert http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616947 Mark schweigert Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616947 I pay less than $20 a month for landline service.  And i keep it because both of my kids are under the age of 7, i want them to be able to call 911 and not have to worry about trying to remember the address in the event of an emergency.  I will never go completely wireless until they are older. I pay less than $20 a month for landline service.  And i keep it because both of my kids are under the age of 7, i want them to be able to call 911 and not have to worry about trying to remember the address in the event of an emergency.  I will never go completely wireless until they are older.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616942 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616942 The ISPs(at least in the US) have been doing a bit of muddying on that matter of late... You'll see phone service(usually as part of what is obnoxiously referred to as a 'triple play' bundle) that is architecturally VOIP all the way from their CPE device to the rest of the world; but which is usually tied to the copper wiring inside the house and isn't generally sold with the notion that the 'consumer' will try anything fancy (SIP softphones, asterix, etc.) These offerings aren't traditional POTS any more than freestanding VOIP is; but (especially among cable customers) they are making inroads against pure copper, and are usually sold as being a drop-in replacement. The ISPs(at least in the US) have been doing a bit of muddying on that matter of late…

You’ll see phone service(usually as part of what is obnoxiously referred to as a ‘triple play’ bundle) that is architecturally VOIP all the way from their CPE device to the rest of the world; but which is usually tied to the copper wiring inside the house and isn’t generally sold with the notion that the ‘consumer’ will try anything fancy (SIP softphones, asterix, etc.)

These offerings aren’t traditional POTS any more than freestanding VOIP is; but (especially among cable customers) they are making inroads against pure copper, and are usually sold as being a drop-in replacement.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616940 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616940 Spectrum is ultimately more limited by ye olde laws of physics than hardline is, since you can't just run another fiber when the first one is filled; but the marginal cost of adding another subscriber to an existing cell network is absolute peanuts(unlike a copper line, which has to be maintained, supplied with power, and whatnot, a cell subscriber is just a few database entries except when they are actively using their phone). Especially given the tendency of the impecunious to move fairly frequently, it would almost certainly cost substantially more to keep them supplied with POTS lines than with some spartan cell plan. If you really want to inflict some morally pleasing punishment, you could always gimp the firmware in assorted ways; but cell connectivity <em>is</em> the cheap seats now. Copper is only cheap if it was installed and paid for years ago and ma bell is just milking it now, and fiber is generally only cost effective among heavy data customers. Spectrum is ultimately more limited by ye olde laws of physics than hardline is, since you can’t just run another fiber when the first one is filled; but the marginal cost of adding another subscriber to an existing cell network is absolute peanuts(unlike a copper line, which has to be maintained, supplied with power, and whatnot, a cell subscriber is just a few database entries except when they are actively using their phone).

Especially given the tendency of the impecunious to move fairly frequently, it would almost certainly cost substantially more to keep them supplied with POTS lines than with some spartan cell plan. If you really want to inflict some morally pleasing punishment, you could always gimp the firmware in assorted ways; but cell connectivity is the cheap seats now. Copper is only cheap if it was installed and paid for years ago and ma bell is just milking it now, and fiber is generally only cost effective among heavy data customers.

]]> By: ohbejoyful http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616857 ohbejoyful Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616857 Or...the USF will gradually increase as fewer and fewer people pay them, until eventually there's just one guy somewhere in Springfield paying $718,537,842 per month to subsidise rural phone access. Or…the USF will gradually increase as fewer and fewer people pay them, until eventually there’s just one guy somewhere in Springfield paying $718,537,842 per month to subsidise rural phone access.

]]> By: Thorzdad http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616835 Thorzdad Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616835 We'd ditch our landline in a heartbeat if cell service here wasn't so abysmal. Even here in my corner of Indiana, our cell service in our home is of the "go out in the yard to get any bars" variety. Thanks Verizon! I still prefer the sound quality of our landline to either cell or voip. There's just no comparison. We’d ditch our landline in a heartbeat if cell service here wasn’t so abysmal. Even here in my corner of Indiana, our cell service in our home is of the “go out in the yard to get any bars” variety. Thanks Verizon!

I still prefer the sound quality of our landline to either cell or voip. There’s just no comparison.

]]> By: astandy http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616818 astandy Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616818 You'll have to pry my wired phone from my cold, dead fingers! You’ll have to pry my wired phone from my cold, dead fingers!

]]> By: Xof http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616798 Xof Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616798 <blockquote>Is that landline or not land line?</blockquote> Not.

Is that landline or not land line?

Not.

]]> By: Xof http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616797 Xof Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616797 News flash: There is no strong correlation between how much fun a job is and how much it pays, unless I've missed all those millionaire busboys and janitors strutting their stuff. News flash: There is no strong correlation between how much fun a job is and how much it pays, unless I’ve missed all those millionaire busboys and janitors strutting their stuff.

]]> By: Xof http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616794 Xof Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616794 We should also make sure that food that is purchased with food stamps is dry and tasteless, too, lest the poor forget for a moment that they are bad people. We should also make sure that food that is purchased with food stamps is dry and tasteless, too, lest the poor forget for a moment that they are bad people.

]]> By: Mike Meyer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616790 Mike Meyer Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616790 Those drones often don't make minimum wage, they make a fair premium above that, because it's not exactly a fun job to have.  My snippy responses, hang ups and general obtuseness help protect that high wage. Those drones often don’t make minimum wage, they make a fair premium above that, because it’s not exactly a fun job to have.  My snippy responses, hang ups and general obtuseness help protect that high wage.

]]> By: acidrain69 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616777 acidrain69 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616777 Landlines are not immune to overload in disaster conditions. Landlines where I live are subject to more damage from hurricanes, and cellular is easier to deploy in an emergency. Landlines are not immune to overload in disaster conditions. Landlines where I live are subject to more damage from hurricanes, and cellular is easier to deploy in an emergency.

]]> By: acidrain69 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616776 acidrain69 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616776 It's called speakerphone. It’s called speakerphone.

]]> By: acidrain69 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616775 acidrain69 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616775 Maybe that's how you use your cellphone. Why should we prop up an aging, decaying communications network so you can make sure nobody who is subsidized gets a moment of pleasure out of their communication device? Maybe that’s how you use your cellphone. Why should we prop up an aging, decaying communications network so you can make sure nobody who is subsidized gets a moment of pleasure out of their communication device?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616768 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616768 I live in the 760 area code, which covers a territory the size of Eriador.  My city has 43K people, with 250K in the immediate environs. We've been saddled with using ten digit numbers for about five years now rather than splitting the region. I live in the 760 area code, which covers a territory the size of Eriador.  My city has 43K people, with 250K in the immediate environs. We’ve been saddled with using ten digit numbers for about five years now rather than splitting the region.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616743 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 28 Dec 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616743 I only have a landline, no cell phone. Bundled with cable internet (and including free voicemail and unlimited calling to the US and Canada), it's cheaper than a cell phone. I only have a landline, no cell phone. Bundled with cable internet (and including free voicemail and unlimited calling to the US and Canada), it’s cheaper than a cell phone.

]]> By: kromelizard http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616744 kromelizard Fri, 28 Dec 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616744 So? Why the hell should the poor be saddled with a fiscally unjustifiable (because cellphones are no longer more costly than landlines) requirement of being saddled with outdated technology? Because you think they just don't deserve modern amenities? So? Why the hell should the poor be saddled with a fiscally unjustifiable (because cellphones are no longer more costly than landlines) requirement of being saddled with outdated technology? Because you think they just don’t deserve modern amenities?

]]> By: zaba http://boingboing.net/2012/12/28/the-long-slow-death-of-the-lan.html#comment-1616741 zaba Fri, 28 Dec 2012 21:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203066#comment-1616741 I think the line would spike even more if it weren't for sheer inertia. I have always had a landline... up until Hurricane Ike. When we moved after the storm and were changing all of our utilities over we realized that there was no reason to keep a landline.  YMMV. I know there are some use cases which make landlines smart options, but I bet far more people pay the landline bill because they have always paid it.  I think the line would spike even more if it weren’t for sheer inertia. I have always had a landline… up until Hurricane Ike. When we moved after the storm and were changing all of our utilities over we realized that there was no reason to keep a landline. 

YMMV. I know there are some use cases which make landlines smart options, but I bet far more people pay the landline bill because they have always paid it. 

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