When did your home landline last ring?
On the rare occasion it does, we all know the chances are it’s going to be a scam caller, especially since in the last year our elderly parents have all mastered Whatsapp and Zoom.
Plus mobile calls have come down in price over the last decade.
As a result, 40% of us have stopped using a landline phone altogether, according to new survey from price comparison site Uswitch.
And while 95% of over-65-year-olds still have a traditional phone, nearly half of under-25s don’t even have a landline installed.
So could we be about to hang up our home handsets once and for all?
“We’ve been locked inside for a year, but landline use has actually fallen,” points out Uswitch’s Nick Baker.
“Work-from-home and study-from-home has forced people to get used to video calling. It’s taken away the fear for a lot of people, especially the older generation,” he adds.
I – Word Understanding
Landline – traditional phone connected to a cable
Hang up – end up
II – Have Your Say
1, When was the last time you used the landline? What is your preference now when making calls?
2, One common problem with landline is calls from scammers and salesmen. What is the situation in your country? Who are mostly targeted by these calls?Have you ever had any issues with such calls?
3, In terms of cost, what is the difference between landline and mobile phones in your country? Has the mobile cost improved in the recent years?
4, Smart speakers are now being marketed partly for convenience of the elderly and people with disabilities. What do you think is the advantage of smart speakers over traditional landline phones that most elderly still prefer to use?
