Landlines less popular

May 9, 2008, 8:03pm,  185 views

A report released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority shows that 90 percent of household consumers have both a fixed line phone and mobile phone.

Nearly half (45 percent) preferring to use mobiles as their main voice communications.

According to the research, most consumers use their fixed-line and mobile phones as complementary services with fixed-line used when at home and for longer calls and mobiles when outside the home.

A small proportion of household consumers (around 10 percent) — “techno non-adopters” — do not have a mobile phone and choose to rely solely on their fixed-line phone for voice communications.

There is also an increasing proportion of consumers — “enthusiastic embracers” — who have or intend to replace their fixed-line phone service with other forms of voice communications. A quarter of household consumers indicated they would consider replacing their fixed-line service with another form of communication. Cost was the biggest factor in considering replacement, with many indicating they would replace their fixed-line if the price of mobile calls was reduced.

The report also found that despite the availability of converged technologies that offer both voice and data services on one device, such as 3G, VoIP and mobile email, most service replacement relates to fixed-line and mobile phone voice services. Although take-up of these converged technologies is low, consumers are starting to become aware and understand the benefits of these services.

Comment: I’d do away with a landline if I could get inexpensive wireless broadband or “naked” ADSL. The rental cost of landlines is ridiculous.