A fascinating trend in Europe could soon follow in
the U.S. and parts of the Pacific Rim (if it hasn't started there already). Within 5 years, landline voice usage is
expected to shrivel dramatically as customers completely replace it with mobile phone usage and VoIP usage over
broadband. Call this "alternative telephony". Why is this, you may ask?For one, it's usually cheaper to have centralized communications than it is to have multiple channels of communication, each with its own monthly cost. Landlines, at least here in the U.S., are known for "nickel and diming" customers for every single feature - many of which are given away free with wireless carriers (like Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, etc.). And, VoIP companies generally give you a laundry list of options for free with their service as well. Does this spell the doom of the landline industry? Very doubtful, but they will be hurtin' as customers move off their networks to cheaper and more flexible options to fit their lifestyles.
1. What is fascinating to me is how long our country takes to catch up to the rest of the world. Our providers and the media do a great job of covering up what new options there really are for us to use and move to. To save money and gain flexibility - it's only the web-savy "power-users" and folks in the IT industry that are "in-the-know" as it were.
Very disappointing to me, however, its good to see these options start to pick up more here in the U.S. - and I think the traditional POTS providers are dreading this very trend. How they will fight it I'm not sure, but I'll put forth my $.02 and suggest that they simply provide the fastest, cheapest, biggest communications pipe to my house. That is all I want from them.
Posted at 3:33PM on Feb 22nd 2006 by Rick Mahn