Cellphones have made everything easier and more convenient for us, that is a fact. However, the more convenience they bring, the more dependent we become on them. This might not necessarily be a good thing. Why? Cellphones aren’t the most reliable tools for communication sometimes. There can be times when your cellphone doesn’t have any signal, runs out of battery, has some technical issue, etc.
That was the bad news. The good news is, we have something else that can be very reliable. A landline or a home phone is that something. When it comes to long-distance calls and emergency responses, a home phone is more preferred than a cellphone. The reason for that is the call quality, reliability, and plenty more that the home phone has to offer. This is also the reason why there are people who still get a home phone plan despite having a cellphone.
After all, you can just pay a few additional bucks with your internet plan, and get the landline as well. Most internet service providers provide TV and phone services along with their internet services. If you’re lucky, you might save a few bucks as well when purchasing the service together as a bundle. Other times, you might get the ultimate convenience of a home phone with additional features that will make the price worth it. An example of the latter is the Wave phone service, with its numerous perks and benefits at a little price!
What is a Home Phone?
I’m pretty sure everyone already knows what a home phone or a landline is. Nevertheless, we won’t just be talking about the definition, but we will go into a little detail about what a landline is and what is the process that goes on behind making a call.
A home phone or a landline phone simply delivers phone calls by transmitting audio or voice signals. Just as cellphones use radio waves to transmit voice from one end to the other, a landline uses a cable, fiber-optic or metal, to transmit those signals. A home phone is also connected to a power source to function, whereas a cellphone uses the battery and is charged every so often.
How do Home Phones Work?
A typical home phone can be divided into three main components: The switchhook, speaker, and microphone. What do the three of these components do?
- The switchhook is made for connecting and disconnecting the landline from the network.
- The speaker is usually an 8-ohm speaker used for listening to the other person and is present in the earpiece.
- The microphone is located in the mouthpiece and is used for talking to the other person. It is a typical electronic microphone and amplifier.
So, how do the three of these come together to make a call? When you pick up the receiver, the switchhook connects you to the network. You can confirm this by hearing the dial tone. Then, once you dial a phone number and talk, your microphone will transmit your voice in the form of electrical energy to the other phone. After reaching the other phone, the electrical energy is converted back to sound energy and the other person can hear your voice through their speaker.
While this sounds like a long process, all of this happens within a matter of microseconds or even milliseconds. This is why you can hear the other person’s voice and respond right away without delay. Seeing as the connection for the phones is established through wires, the connection remains stable and reliable. It is possible to lose signals with a cellphone, but not so much with a home phone.
Reasons to Have a Home Phone
Finally, after discussing what a landline is and how it works, it’s time to move on to the reasons why you should get a landline phone. Here are some of the reasons to invest in a landline phone.
Emergencies
During an emergency, there might be times when you can’t reach the authorities with your cellphone due to poor signals or anything else. A landline is more reliable in this case since it is usually not affected by any power outages or signal issues. Moreover, it is easier for authorities to track your location with a home phone than with a cell phone.
Call Quality
The call quality of a home phone is much better than that of a cellphone. The reason for this is simple and that is that a phone is connected via wires and the cables are not easily affected by a storm or bad weather conditions. This can be super important since you might want to call someone and make sure they’re doing okay amidst terrible weather conditions.
Three-way and conference calls will also not be a problem anymore as the sound quality will be crystal clear and there won’t be any lags. Once again, signal issues are close to none with a home phone.
Ease of Use
The ease of use of a home phone is increased due to its big buttons that are easily visible and understandable to kids and the elderly alike. The receiver also has a curved shape making it easier to hold in your hand and prop between your shoulder and ear. The features that come with phone plans like call blocking, speed dial, call forwarding, etc. add to the ease of use of the home phone.
Conclusion
Ever wonder why organizations and offices still use landlines? These were the reasons why. To communicate to the customer or even to a supervisor, they will use landlines that are more reliable than a cell phone. It also helps in keeping their work life and private life separated. So, are you ready to give it a go? If you already have a home phone, you know the ease and convenience it comes with. And if you don’t, this is your sign to go get one today!
