From: Benjamin.Kubelsky@verizon.net   
      
   On 7/8/2014 11:35 AM, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
   > 41% of American homes are now wireless-only   
   > It's not just Millennials anymore--a growing number of older American adults   
   are getting rid of their landlines and going cellphone-only. 41 percent of   
   U.S. households were wireless-only by of the end of 2013, according to new   
   data from the National    
   Center for Health Statistics.   
   >   
   > http://time.com/#2966515/landline-phones-cell-phones/   
   >   
   > The high percentage of landline dumpers surprises me; I thought it was about   
   20-30% of homes that are landline only.   
   >   
   > I am also surprised about the extent of data transmission, unless that   
   includes simple messaging like texting and twitter.   
   >   
   > To me, a cellphone is a terrible device for Internet access as the screen is   
   so small.  I much prefer a conventional computer (and a desktop at that).   
   >   
   > But apparently I'm 'disconnected' from the communications world.   
   >   
   >   
   > Side question:  How wonder how many remaining landlines still have a   
   rotary-dial phone connected with them?  I would guess a reasonable amount as   
   many people merely left an old phone attached to their line for emergency use   
   or convenience (such as a    
   basement phone or one in a room not regularly used).   
   >   
   > I also wonder how many calls today are placed from a rotary dial unit   
   sending pulses.  Here I would suspect a very low percentage.  Does the telco   
   ever release statistics about that?   
   >   
      
   I have a rotary attached to my landline. It is on the counter, next to   
   the stove in the kitchen, and, unlike the modern phones, it is   
   unaffected by cooking grease, fumes, splashes, etc.   
      
   I do often answer it, when it rings and I'm nearby, though I usually   
   switch to a cordless phone if I'm going to be long. But, since even to   
   call across the street takes 10 digits these days, and I have fewer and   
   fewer valid telephone numbers in my head, I don't use it to dial out   
   much. Once a year or so, I do it, just for kicks.   
      
   Oh, and one of the reasons I keep my landline is that cell reception   
   inside my home is pretty bad. It's okay in the living room, but the back   
   bedroom, where I am in the evenings, is another story. The cell will   
   ring, but having a conversation is nearly impossible. It doesn't seem to   
   matter much which cell provider is involved. Radio and television   
   reception isn't very good there, either.   
      
   Regards,   
      
   DAve   
      
   *Oh, here in earthquake country, the safety folks warn that cell service   
   will most likely be unavailable (due to overload) for some hours, or   
   perhaps days after a large quake. Another reason to keep the landline.   
      
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