Our landline phone, a constant and reliable companion for decades, was recently given a planned but unwilling farewell. Even though such a farewell was in complete sync with latest trends all over the world, one could not help but grieve for several days until one got used to life without its constant ‘tir-tir’ throughout the day. With the skyrocketing prices, and incomes frozen, the goodbye became a necessity. But it left a vacuum in our lives for days together. It had become, in a way, as lovable as any chatty family member. We had to give the phone up to deal with these times of economic hardship. I must confess that we got the idea from an international journal that said it was more economical and sensible to replace it with a cellphone. Anyway, there were already several mobile sets in the family. Keeping the landline cord buzzing as well was more a matter of the heart than of the mind. The mind overpowered the heart this time and the familiar ‘tir-tir’ sound was heard no more.
Quick research shows that the unfailing companion at home is being pushed out all over the world. In the US alone, there were 70,000 disconnections per year over the last two years, a phenomenal 10 per cent of total landline connectivity. If the trend keeps up, the last cord will be cut off in 2025. Guess which country tops in such cut-offs? Netherlands, among the first democratic countries, and the host to five international courts, has the highest rate at 25 per cent a year. Though we have no comparable data about India, one can say from anecdotal experience that this country may not be lagging far behind. A friend was heard telling another when asked about his landline number, ‘‘Which world do you live in?” Not having a landline at home and carrying multiple cellphones has become a status symbol. No wonder then that old handsets are fast giving way to the latest and trendiest smartphones. Gone are the days when only the rich and the famous could be seen showing off their fancy mobile phones. Some of us may even have good reason to take pleasure in the fact that Blackberries and iPhones have become the latest levellers. Who wouldn’t like to flaunt the same kind of mobile used by our politicians and top businessmen, after all!
--extract form Times of India
Quick research shows that the unfailing companion at home is being pushed out all over the world. In the US alone, there were 70,000 disconnections per year over the last two years, a phenomenal 10 per cent of total landline connectivity. If the trend keeps up, the last cord will be cut off in 2025. Guess which country tops in such cut-offs? Netherlands, among the first democratic countries, and the host to five international courts, has the highest rate at 25 per cent a year. Though we have no comparable data about India, one can say from anecdotal experience that this country may not be lagging far behind. A friend was heard telling another when asked about his landline number, ‘‘Which world do you live in?” Not having a landline at home and carrying multiple cellphones has become a status symbol. No wonder then that old handsets are fast giving way to the latest and trendiest smartphones. Gone are the days when only the rich and the famous could be seen showing off their fancy mobile phones. Some of us may even have good reason to take pleasure in the fact that Blackberries and iPhones have become the latest levellers. Who wouldn’t like to flaunt the same kind of mobile used by our politicians and top businessmen, after all!
--extract form Times of India
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14 comments:
Cell phones ki jai ho! ;)
ye mere sath bhi hua hai :( was feeling so nostalgic about that landline no. and whatever the airtels and vodafones say , landline clarity can never be matched.
@I'll try 2 be truthful said - agreed . clarity wise landline is better,.,
Mobility wise cell phones are best
@Dhaniya- yeah. I cant imagine myself without cell phones
hmmmmmmmm.. most of wat u said is rite tat phones these days do get replaced by the cell phones its easier and you use it more.. but i guess not all replace it at least i can say that for when im back home in Kuwait i tend to use the landline more than the cell.. since the rates are better off than compared to the cell phone and the cell is mostly used for msgin wen we are out over there else there isnt much use to it.. for working people its an asset due to the travelling but for the rest of us over there the landline is like the best you either use the cordless and roam abou the whole house or roll on the bed and chat or u use the wired one which ristricts your motion and keeps you glued to one place.. most of us youngsters these days possess a cell phone making things easier but i guess for some of the older people say my granny for example i guess she would still love to use the landline since the mobile is too small and they feel that half the time they have to strain their ears to listen and have no clue as to how to handle the object so they prefer gettin rid of it very fast if they have to use it to talk.. i guess mostly it depends on the place and convenience of time..
unusual post nidzzzi
I hardly use my land line , but i love it too much to let it go , i guess it reminds me of the good old days :)
so true!My land line phone exists only coz I need my broadband connection. We barely use it.
But it does serve useful in case of an emergency when the cell phone's not working and there is no way to get it to work.At such times the landline is quite helpful.
''Fantasies of a Lifetime -- its difficult to let go the memories
@Chandler -- kabhi kabhi chalta ha. i dint knw u follow my blog
@P.j. - right, hw can we forget landline never has netwrk prob, even battery ka problem :)
I prefer landlines for sure. Nice article.
Luckily, we still have our landline ringing..
I don't think my mom will ever dc the landline. It's like her lifeline...
but i guess ..with time everything would be wireless...
tc
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