1/3rd of US wireless customers may eliminate landlines by 09

[Fire14]

One-Third of Consumers May Use Wireless as Primary Phone in 2009

Between 23% and 37% of USA wireless subscribers will use a wireless phone as their primary telephone by 2009, reports In-Stat. About 9.4% of U.S. wireless subscribers already use a wireless phone as their primary phone, and compared with earlier surveys, fewer consumers feel that a wired phone is necessary, according to the high-tech market research firm.

"Those who are considering wireless substitution for landline are primarily motivated by lifestyle issues, as long as they don't have to give up much in terms of quality, reliability, or services," said David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst. "Wireless carriers can stimulate substitution by continuing to attract customers to advanced wireless features and educating them about availability of number portability."

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

-- Consumers who are most likely to consider replacing their landline phone with wireless are those who are already heavy wireless users. Demographics do not offer much insight into the likelihood of wireless substitution.

-- Among those with a wireless and landline phone, resistance to wireless substitution has dropped dramatically since In-Stat's 2003 survey.

-- Barriers to landline replacement, particularly in-building coverage and perceived inconvenience (such as losing DSL or having to change the phone number), are resolvable with other technologies, continued network build-out, or consumer education.

[Jay2TheRescue]

You'll see when that happens landline prices will fall. People are just now realizing why are they spending $40 -$50/mo on a landline when they're already spending at least as much, if not more on a wireless phone.

[Shizam76]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

You'll see when that happens landline prices will fall. People are just now realizing why are they spending $40 -$50/mo on a landline when they're already spending at least as much, if not more on a wireless phone.

LoL....Chewbaca......SBC was raping us for $55 bucks a month for a landline. It was unlimited local and 200 local toll (over 8 miles) and long distance per month. What killed us was the features. I still needed voicemail, wanted caller ID, call waiting, etc.....they get you on those.

I dumped them 3 months ago.....went with Vonage VOIP. Now I pay 14.99 per month (16.94 with tax) for 500 minutes per month....and all the features like voicemail, call waiting, etc.

[bobolito]

I did the same thing about 2 years ago. However, I had to wait for Internet over Cable service to become available because DSL was the only option and because of that I had to keep paying Verizon for a landline I barely used. As soon as the cable company launched their Internet service, I dumped the VZ landline and the DSL and now I am with Vonage over the cable connection. Someday I may cancel Vonage too. I just keep it as a back up in case my cell phone service goes nuts.