Americans prefer landline: Survey

An overwhelming majority of American consumers -- including those who have a cell phone -- say they plan to keep and continue using their landline home phone indefinitely.

A landline service's proven reliability and safety were given as reasons for their preference, according to a nationwide survey by KRC research, which was commissioned by telephone giant Verizon.

Ninety-four per cent of the respondents cited reliability and 91 per cent safety as the key factors for retaining landline service.

Eighty-three per cent respondents said they intend to continue using their landline home phone indefinitely -- a strong vote of consumer confidence for landline voice service in a survey group in which 74 per cent had cell phones. Seventy-six per cent said they use landline phones every day.

Consumers, the survey shows, value voice quality, reliability and consistency of service. Ninety-eight percent of landline users consider their connection to be reliable on a typical day, and 91 per cent rate their connection as reliable even on days when the weather is inclement.

The survey revealed that women, senior citizens, middle-income earners and those living outside of metropolitan areas are more likely to continue using their landline phones indefinitely.

Consumers who use only a traditional corded phone in their residence are more likely than those with only a cordless phone to want to keep their phone indefinitely.

Eighty-seven per cent of females, versus 80 per cent of males, plan to continue using their landline phone for the foreseeable future, whereas 90 percent of persons older than 65 said they will keep their landline phone forever as opposed to 82 percent of those under the age of 65.

Verizon originally provided landline phones and is now becoming a major player in cell phone market as also bundling television, phone and Internet services using fibre optics.