Telephone repairs... slightly off topic

[chicagofan]

I have found that I cannot report my dead telephone lines to my regional telephone company, without a WORKING telephone. Since I am retired, and do not have access to multiple phones, I find it pretty ridiculous that a communications company in the 21st century has not adapted their online system to allow reports to be filed that indicate communications must be by e-mail.

However, no one here can help me with that, but I thought some of you might have experience living without your teleco. land lines, and might share your experience and advice with me. I have ordered a TracFone online, to handle my immediate situation, and was wondering if I could risk having only that. I rarely use my phone, except for arranging household repairs, etc.. I would really appreciate any advice.

bj

[m Ransley]

Your lines work, your online. go buy a phone, sold localy most anywhere

[Travis Jordan]

I agree - in 2004, it is ridiculous that you can't report a landline outage via the internet!

While I haven't yet "cut the cord" I have a number of friends and neighbors who have done exactly that - given up their landlines for cellular-only service. My primary reluctance has been my frequent need for inbound facsimile (driven by my business, and no, I can't get my customers to give it up in favor of email). But other obvious disadvantages of cellular-only service are:

- you have to pay for incoming calls

- poor voice quality (if using a provider other than the CDMA carriers)

- lack of accurate (address specific) 911 service

- extra cost for a listing in your local phone book

- extra hardware if you want to use your extension phones (i.e.

you need a UPS to protect against loss of phone service during an extended power outage

If I were going to consider going cordless and I had reliable broadband service I'd be tempted to try one of the VoIP providers such as Vonage.

[RBV]

Cable modem? not all internet connections are through telephone.

[chicagofan]

Nope, I have several phones, the lines do not work. My internet service is cable. bj