Digital Gee

Currently i have a land line from AT&T, a cell phone through Verizon. I'm moving and wondering if it's better to bundle my land line with Cox Cable or leave it with AT&T. Visiting the websites and trying to understand the plans and determine which might be a good value for me is an exercise in frustration. Frankly, I can't stand the "service" i get from either vendor.

That said, anyone with any input on using a cable company for a land line phone number? I guess I'm asking which hell is worse: AT&T or Cox?

wrk101

I would dump the land line entirely. Land lines are obsolete.

As far as cable companies, they pretty much all stink.

Worst case scenario, if you are convinced you need a land line, I would go with Skype or similar, and still not have a land line. Not sure which one of the internet phone services are cheapest, it used to be Skype. But again, I would just stick with your Verizon phone, and say goodbye to the whole land line concept.

Artkansas 

Well, Cox doesn't service Little Rock, so it would be no problem for me to decide. I guess you just have to figure out which service you despise less.

Have you thought about two tin cans and a string?

Monoborracho

This is only true if you are one of the 4 out of 5 who live in a metro area.

ad6mj

Traditional phone service (AT&T) is more reliable. Cable phone is more susceptible to outages. If you have a cell as a backup that probably isn't a huge issue unless you happen to have life support/monitoring equipment that requires dialtone. Not sure about Cox but most cable phone rates include free long distance and no toll charges. Depending on your usage that can be significant. If you're already a Cox customer for TV and or internet the bundling rates can be even more advantageous.

RonH

+1
We did this about 2 years ago and haven't looked back.


FYI: We had a cable land line about 10 years ago. It was out for 3 days on one occasion. Calling the cable company on a pay phone to find out about service is not fun.

tsl

Cable modem? Get Vonage VoIP. With tax and everything, mine is $20/mo.

tpelle

Don't know if this is true everywhere with every system, but a year or so ago a co-worker changed her phone service to be bundled with their internet service. She found that anyone who called her was being charged with a long-distance call, even if they were just across the street. I'd check on that.

Personally I believe that I could bag my landline service and just go cellular, but I don't think I'd bundle with cable TV or Internet.

MENEGRANDE

i have a dryloop dsl from att $19/mo + Vonage at 39.99 with unlimimited talk to venezuela and other countries...
if no int'l calling is needed then it runs you about 24$ a month unlimited in the usa, canada and other parts

doctor j

I use Vonage. I make quite a few long distance calls, so it pays off for me. Once in a while, the cable modem suffers a brain fart, and I lose service. I disconnect the power from the modem, connect it again, let the modem reboot, and it's good to go. I'm satisfied with it.

stapfam

Big thing over here is broadband. Plenty of providors and I use Tiscali. 8mg line- free phone calls and all for $50 a month. Move to the UK. On second thoughts- Stay where you are and sort your own problems.

John E

Land line phone service is more reliable than either cable or cell phone. In a major emergency, it may be the last communication system running, outside of amateur radio or CB. However, land line's advantage is eroding through neglect -- I was without land line phone and DSL for a flabbergasting and unprecedented 6 days in December.