Living here in Stillwaters Estates residents still need a landline phone to operate our security system and to open the security gates at each entrance, from within their homes.. There is almost always a discussion on the use of cell phones and do we really need to keep going with landlines? Have they outgrown their past value and why can’t we just go with cell phones? I read an interesting article this week on why landlines still serve a valuable purpose.
According to David Wallis, author of the article in AARP’s online magazine titled “Why you shouldn’t drop your Landline just yet”, 35 percent of US households rely only on cellular phones. This is up from 20% in 2008. Phone systems like 911 are still in need of traditional copper wire landlines to register in the right area and to show your address to the operator. Phone calls from a cell phone or a Voice-Over-Internet-Phone (VOIP) will require extra routing once you reach an operator. This extra time can be crucial in an emergency.
The second reason a landline is important is that during emergencies such as flood, wind or earthquake the electricity is likely to go out and cell phones are usually overwhelmed or unavailable. A copper wire landline is self-powered and unaffected by weather (this only applies to landlines that only plug into a phone connection, not to those that must be plugged into electricity).
If you want to read more about this go to:
As the author of the article says, giving up a landline to save a few dollars may not be a wise choice at this point.
Quote of the Week:
Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open. – John Barrymore
Happenings this week:
Saturday, February 15th: “Back to the Future” playing at the Fox Theatre in downtown Centralia. First showing is 2 PM and second is 7 PM. All proceeds go to restoration of the art deco theatre. There are 11 films in the 2014 series, such as Casablanca, Citizen Kane and E.T. Tickets are $7 for members and $8 for nonmembers. For more information go to www.centraliafoxtheatre.com
Weather: Our rainy and windy weather will continue for the next week or so. Both WeatherBug and The Chronline Weather report show rain daily and some windy days particularly Saturday night and Sunday. Stay dry and enjoy the entertaining weather.
