The End of an Era: AT&T to phase out landline phone network by 2029

[pstokely]

https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/the-end-of-an-era-at-t-to-phase-out-landline-phone-network-by-2029

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 36% of Michiganders still use landline phones.

They estimate that adds up to about 2,780,097 adults still relying on them. However, this number has been steadily declining as more people switch to mobile devices.

AT&T is offering a new service, AT&T Phone – Advanced, which allows customers to keep their existing landline phone numbers and equipment while transitioning to a wireless or broadband connection.

The company says they are prioritizing reliability, cost-effectiveness and security features, including robocall blocking.

[anciano]

1. "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra

[SocialDemocrat61]

2. Robert Zemeckis promised us flying cars

I’m still waiting.

[Maeve]

3. We gave up our landline this past year

You now call a person or a business, not a house
Lot fewer spam calls

[pstokely]

4. even if they have a cell phone phone, many are just keeping them because they've had the same number 50+ years

and think someone they haven't heard from in 50+ years will call

[Hekate]

5. Here's the reason we kept ours so long: they nearly always worked. On more than one occasion...

…our phone was the only one in the neighborhood still working when the cell towers went up in flames in a regional California fire. During one disaster my sis in Massachusetts phoned me in California — and my landline rang altho the power was otherwise out — and she literally read me the news from CNN off her own TV, when I said I had no idea what was going on outside my immediate neighborhood.

Nowadays, through the magic of electronics, when a major power outage occurs (usually as a fire prevention measure in high winds) we immediately lose computer and iPad reception, and very quickly after that, can barely get info as posted to my iPhone.

I really don’t think of this as a magical one size fits all improvement.

[Xolodno]

6. Ages ago, I ported our landline number to Ooma.

Advertisement companies get that number and I only check the messages about once a month. Every once in a great while I get a pertinent phone call, and then I'm wondering why didn't they call XYZ to get my cell.

[GoCubsGo]

7. They did that in my area years ago.

I have had a VOIP "landline" for nearly 10 years, which is fine--until the power goes out. Then, it's useless without a battery to keep the router powered up. I always had phone service with my old copper wire line, but they forced me off of it. Wish I had it back when Helene came through, and knocked out the power for over a week...

[area51]

8. Damn.

I'd like to keep my landline. When a hurricane comes in, that phone still works.

[question everything]

9. When someone calls the landline, anyone in the house can answer, and call the intended person

Or a message can be left for anyone to access it.

A call to a cell phone will be received only by the subscriber who may or may not be available.