subject: Has The Internet Rendered The Traditional Landline Obsolete? [print this page] In short, it is beyond doubt that the Internet has revolutionised communications technology as we know it but this does not mean that the traditional landline telephone does not hold any benefits over the options presented by the Internet. It is true, though, that the Internet is still developing at a rapid rate with new innovations appearing regularly, and it could well still render the traditional landline telephone obsolete in years to come.
For Internet users in the modern day there are wide variety of options when it comes to communication, social network sites, email, and skype are among a few. One recent product that phone companies are now offering is the VoIP telephone, this looks and basically functions like a regular household telephone, however it operates via the users Internet connection.
There are a number of advantages to having a VoIP telephone - for starters there are a range of functions that simply dont exist on a regular landline, such as the ability to access emails, send instant messages, and even make video calls. Moreover the VoIP phone is portable, it can be moved from one location to another and simply plugged into another Internet connection. Finally one of the main attractions to having a VoIP telephone is the low cost, you can contact anywhere with Internet around the world for no extra cost than your broadband package.
Although, despite the benefits associated with having a VoIP telephone there are still some good reasons why it might be worth hanging on to your traditional landline too. Firstly relying solely on your Internet connection for all your communication can be risky not only might the Internet go down, but it is not as secure as a traditional landline so if you disclose any personal details you may be vulnerable to fraud. Secondly a traditional landline telephone is the only modern day communications technology that can operate without electricity, so in the event of a power cut it can prove to be useful.
If you are considering buying a VoIP then there are a few points that are worth considering, such as will you truly benefit from all the features provided? Many phone companies offer packages that provide cheap local calls and reduced rates on evenings for long distance calls. Also make sure that you have reliable Internet connection that is fast, fibre optic would be ideal, if you do happen to have this then setting up a VoIP line will be relatively painless, however if you dont then you might have to fork out for an upgrade.
