choose no home phone line?

[Sploosh]

My wife and I are in the process of buying a new house being built by someone else, and the telstra line goes to the property but that's all - nothing has been installed inside the house. We are considering not getting a home phone installed at the new place and just having our 2 mobiles.

Does anyone else have experience of doing this? Recommendations for/against doing it?

As we see it:

Pros:
No Telstra home phone bills
No need to initially pay to have home lines installed
No need to ever have to deal with telstra about anything (we think??)
Can use a USB modem for internet (we assume?) for the computer
Can use the laptop anywhere - not just the house (we assume?) because satellite/USB works anywhere (?)

Cons:
Need to get a much higher level mobile plan as all calls will be from mobile
Have to pay more (we assume) for satellite/USB modem for the computer even though it allows less downloads

[Brucetiki]

I did this when I moved into my house - don't have a landline, just use my mobile for all calls and have wireless broadband with a USB modem, and it's been fantastic.

For the phone, I have 3's $49 cap for the phone and 3's 6GB plan ($39/month) for the broadband, and both suit me fine. For the phone, if you go on a mobile cap plan, then most cap plans are cheaper than a landline's costs these days anyway.

Fantastic benefit of wireless broadband is when you go on holidays, you don't need to pay to use the hotel's broadband as you just bring your modem. At the end of the day, it depends on how fast you want/need the internet. If you're wanting to download movies etc, I would not recommend wireless as it can be slow at times, very slow to download video, and isn't compatible with services such as Tivo and the T Box.

[Sploosh]

Great to hear that you're happy with that decision.

For the phone, I have 3's $49 cap for the phone and 3's 6GB plan ($39/month) for the broadband, and both suit me fine.

Do you find that the $49 cap covers you for all calls? One thing I'm concerned about it calling companies (insurance, airlines, businesses and the like) who put you on hold, make you press 17 different options and wait some more, all on a mobile. At least with home phone there's no "How much is this damn waiting costing me?" type of pressure.

[dedja]

The copper cable that it connected to your house is almost certainly required.

Whilst most people just think of it a just a phone line (voice), it's also your connection to the outside world for data (broadband).

Wired broadband is generally much cheaper and reliable that 3G or satellite, so while you may not use it for voice (by using voice mobile services) you should investigate the option of utilising it for broadband.

It is possible to get naked broadband services that don't require a 'phone line' but they use that same copper cable.

For what you think you will save in line rental, you will pay much more for wireless broadband.

If you utilise VOIP, voice calls will be extremely cheap and you will not pay the Earth for broadband.

[Mr Beefy]

The copper cable that it connected to your house is almost certainly required.

Whilst most people just think of it a just a phone line (voice), it's also your connection to the outside world for data (broadband).

Wired broadband is generally much cheaper and reliable that 3G or satellite, so while you may not use it for voice (by using voice mobile services) you should investigate the option of utilising it for broadband.

It is possible to get naked broadband services that don't require a 'phone line' but they use that same copper cable.

I have naked adsl, mobiles - no home phone, i might get voip one day if not having a home phone ever becomes an issue. I'm not paying line rental again!

[Psyber]

I'd always assumed the strategy of Telstra was to gradually push the cost of land line phones up to achieve that result - get everyone on to mobiles only.
After all it was the one way they were going to get what they wanted - timed local calls - as no federal government was going to approve that unpopular idea.

If you are considering going that way do your arithmetic. Most mobile capped plans sound generous with "included calls" allegedly worth lots of dollars for the capped price, but when you look at the flag fall and fees each brief local call can cost around 80c to $1.20 of your included value and it is rapidly chewed through. A five minute call at 28c on a land line could be nearly $4.00.

I've gone another way with an integrated deal with my ISP for land line, VOIP service, and ADSL, and I've just transferred to Slimtel for mobile - no flag fall and 17c per 30 seconds - 11c for calls to 3 or Vodafone mobiles. This still leaves the option of "Naked ADSL" if you conclude you don't need a land line later.
You usually find the "Naked" ADSL plan costs $10 extra, which is really a cheap line rental deal because there is no phone service provided.
In my deal local land line calls are 18c and national VOIP calls are 16c, all un-timed.

[MW]

CONS:
Friends and family will not be impressed having to pay mobile rates to ring you each time

[Dirko]

CONS:
Friends and family will not be impressed having to pay mobile rates to ring you each time

That could also be a PRO too.....

[Dog_ger]

Got Telstra to install a broadband cable maybe 5 years ago.

Dropped the home phone about 2 years after.

Only have Telstra Broadband line that I pay for and a Vodafone mobile that work picks the tab up on.

Works well for me.

[Barto]

The copper cable that it connected to your house is almost certainly required.

Whilst most people just think of it a just a phone line (voice), it's also your connection to the outside world for data (broadband).

Wired broadband is generally much cheaper and reliable that 3G or satellite, so while you may not use it for voice (by using voice mobile services) you should investigate the option of utilising it for broadband.

It is possible to get naked broadband services that don't require a 'phone line' but they use that same copper cable.

I have naked adsl, mobiles - no home phone, i might get voip one day if not having a home phone ever becomes an issue. I'm not paying line rental again!

I've got the naked DSL but rarely use the phone side of things. If I need to make a longer call and cant be bothered being put on hold on the mobile, just plug in a pair of headphones to the laptop and use a software based phone.

Most modern routers have VOIP capability to connect a standard phone but I've got a cheaper router that doesn't have that. Haven't seen a need to outlay for something I dont really use.

[JAS]

CONS:
Friends and family will not be impressed having to pay mobile rates to ring you each time

That would be my main concern too...especially if any are eldery and on a low income.

Regards
JAS

[gadj1976]

The copper cable that it connected to your house is almost certainly required.

Whilst most people just think of it a just a phone line (voice), it's also your connection to the outside world for data (broadband).

Wired broadband is generally much cheaper and reliable that 3G or satellite, so while you may not use it for voice (by using voice mobile services) you should investigate the option of utilising it for broadband.

It is possible to get naked broadband services that don't require a 'phone line' but they use that same copper cable.

I have naked adsl, mobiles - no home phone, i might get voip one day if not having a home phone ever becomes an issue. I'm not paying line rental again!

We have naked ADSL and a home phone via Internode. Good part of it is you can choose your own phone number (within a range of numbers). Not having to pay $50 or $60 bucks for a line into the house is the best thing we ever did.

[gadj1976]

I'd always assumed the strategy of Telstra was to gradually push the cost of land line phones up to achieve that result - get everyone on to mobiles only.
After all it was the one way they were going to get what they wanted - timed local calls - as no federal government was going to approve that unpopular idea.

If you are considering going that way do your arithmetic. Most mobile capped plans sound generous with "included calls" allegedly worth lots of dollars for the capped price, but when you look at the flag fall and fees each brief local call can cost around 80c to $1.20 of your included value and it is rapidly chewed through. A five minute call at 28c on a land line could be nearly $4.00.

I've gone another way with an integrated deal with my ISP for land line, VOIP service, and ADSL, and I've just transferred to Slimtel for mobile - no flag fall and 17c per 30 seconds - 11c for calls to 3 or Vodafone mobiles. This still leaves the option of "Naked ADSL" if you conclude you don't need a land line later.
You usually find the "Naked" ADSL plan costs $10 extra, which is really a cheap line rental deal because there is no phone service provided.
In my deal local land line calls are 18c and national VOIP calls are 16c, all un-timed.

With the package we got Psyber, the extra $10 works well cos we get $10 worth of free calls. We hardly use the home phone because of my work mobile, but when we do, it's pretty much negligible. The internet is also a work expense, and I don't even bother claiming the cost between what we are charged over $69 per month.

[White Line Fever]

Landline??

What's that?

Just get Foxtel free installation then cancel it.
Run your internet through the Foxtel cable.
Fast and reliable.

Caps on mobiles are huge these days.
$79 and your covered up to $500.

[Sploosh]

We have naked ADSL and a home phone via Internode. Good part of it is you can choose your own phone number (within a range of numbers). Not having to pay $50 or $60 bucks for a line into the house is the best thing we ever did.

THis sounds interesting, because we are currently with internode and I like their service. If the phone line currently stops on the outside wall though, would internode be able to take it from there or would I still need to get telstra to set something up initially?

And yes, people calling us is something I need to consider too.

[Brucetiki]

Great to hear that you're happy with that decision.

For the phone, I have 3's $49 cap for the phone and 3's 6GB plan ($39/month) for the broadband, and both suit me fine.

Do you find that the $49 cap covers you for all calls? One thing I'm concerned about it calling companies (insurance, airlines, businesses and the like) who put you on hold, make you press 17 different options and wait some more, all on a mobile. At least with home phone there's no "How much is this damn waiting costing me?" type of pressure.

Most phone calls I make to a 'company' is 3's Customer Care, which is a flat 25c anyway. Also, some companies will phone you straight back if you ask nicely.

[Brucetiki]

Got Telstra to install a broadband cable maybe 5 years ago.

Dropped the home phone about 2 years after.

Only have Telstra Broadband line that I pay for and a Vodafone mobile that work picks the tab up on.

Works well for me.

As I'm in a cable area, I did consider cable broadband. However, it costs $40 for 2GB (http://go.bigpond.com/broadband/9-plan/), whereas 3's wireless is $29 for 2GB or $39 for 6GB.

[LMA]

Optus Fusion have good deals, we were on a $89 a month bundle which gets you unlimited calls, including long distance and calls to optus mobiles plus 7GB of internet. Recently upgraded to 20GB for an extra $10 a month due to running 2 laptops

[Gingernuts]

My wife and I have no home line, and we just have wireless broadband through Telstra (in a rural area, so no choice).

We do pay a lot more for internet, but the simple fact that telemarketers don't know where to find me is priceless. Reality is, they would be the only people using my home number if I got one.

[gadj1976]

We have naked ADSL and a home phone via Internode. Good part of it is you can choose your own phone number (within a range of numbers). Not having to pay $50 or $60 bucks for a line into the house is the best thing we ever did.

THis sounds interesting, because we are currently with internode and I like their service. If the phone line currently stops on the outside wall though, would internode be able to take it from there or would I still need to get telstra to set something up initially?

And yes, people calling us is something I need to consider too.

Sploosh, nup, you can get rid of the line completely. Telstra will do that for you (and hence they can't say they are providing you a line, and hence can't charge the landline rental fee) as part of the installation with Internode. I was on the 25g $59.95 a month and decided to go naked. The costs are about $270 to set up but then that's only 3 or 4 Telstra bills. The plan I'm on is now 25g $69.95 with $10 free calls.

The ONLY problems we have now is that I can't use the box office facility on Foxtel and can't "vote" on one of those stupid voting things. Oh, also I can't use the Foxtel guide on line and record programs remotely. Small inconvenience for them not charging me $50 or $60 a bill for nothing.

I've read on here that you can use some alternate phone service for naked and it's like 1c per call or something. I haven't investigated it because we're not using the $10 worth of calls anyway.