Series questions about cell phones

[FloridaJudy]

I used to have a chintzy little TracFone I bought at K-Mart. It was just right for my purposes, since I rarely used it except for emergencies. I misplaced it a few months ago - I had turned it to "mute" for a meeting, so couldn't locate it by calling the number. I'm sure the minutes and the battery are both defunct by now.

I was going to go out a buy another, but my home phone bill is starting to look astronomically high. It does include the DSL service, but I'm also paying way more for the land line than it's worth.

So, should I just ditch the land line and just get cell phone service? If so, which? I'm not one of those people who's passionately attached to my phone at all times, and call long distance about three times a year - to wish my family happy whatever holiday. I'm sure I could get the minimum service and still have plenty of minutes left over at the end of the month.

Since I already have Bell South for my DSL, should I go with what they offer or hold out for a better deal? It would be fun to have a phone that takes pictures, but if that's horribly expensive I could live without it.

Thanks.

[ThomCat]

1. If you get good reception in your home

and if you're diligent about keeping your phone charged then having a cell phone at home is a good, inexpensive option.

But if your cell phone reception is spotty in your home then you might want to consider just getting bundled digital phone service with your DSL. It's cheaper than a land-line and you can get some really amazing long distance plans.

The only benefit to a traditional land-line is that it will still work if the power goes out. In an emergency I am going to be needed and people will need to reach me, so I MUST keep a traditional land line. But that's not a necessity for most other people.

[FloridaJudy]

3. I've never had trouble with reception in my home

But I frequently see the neighbors standing in the middle of the parking lot to make calls. Oddly, I could frequently make calls with my dinky little throw-away that people paying way more couldn't. During the last round of hurricanes, mine was the only cell phone that still worked, and colleagues were borrowing it to check up on their families. I guess it depends on the service.

[ThomCat]

5. It really does mostly depend on your carrier.

I'm in NYC, which you would think would have great coverage no matter who your carrier is. We're one of the most densely saturated markets in the world after all.

Sprint and Verizon work very well in my home and throughout Staten Island. Almost nobody else does. In other parts of the city Verizon and T-Mobile work best. Outside of the city in New Jersey I've heard that AT&T works best.
:shrug:

But your phone does have something to do with it too. The cheap phones that they give away free with contracts are sometimes good but usually only mediocre. The super-thin phones are no better. The mid-range phones that aren't too thin seem to actually have the best reception. They are just expensive enough that the companies put some good components in them, and just large enough that the components fit.

[KitchenWitch]

2. Does your home have a security system?

You might be locked into keeping a landline if you have a security system.

[FloridaJudy]

4. Shameless self-kick for the morning crew.

Any recommendations, folks?

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I ditched my landline years ago, and haven't missed it at all.

But if you can't get broadband through cable where you live, you'll need to keep the phone line - it's my you can't have DSL without also having phone service, since they go hand in hand.

[DarkTirade]

7. My advice is DO WHATEVER YOU CAN to get rid of BellSouth.

... but that's just me.

[ThomCat]

8. Yes, especially now that they've been acquired by AT&T.

AT&T is decimating the what was good about Bell South. :(

[DarkTirade]

9. ... which is very little to begin with.

Trust me on that one.