A landline telephone is a device that utilizes an optical fiber for transmissions. It is known by various names such as landline, mainline, home phone, fixed, or wired line. It transmits signals by converting audio data via the cable. The invention of this great device was brought to daylight by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. Further, he was granted the United States patent for his invention .

Landline phone services operate through a large network of cables and satellites that are used to send frequencies.

Two major categories of this device are wired and wireless (cordless).

Wired phones

These phone’s base and receiver or handset are connected by a wire. One can install them either by mounting it on a wall placing it on a tabletop. The main drawback of these devices is that they limit the mobility however the speakerphone facility tries to eliminate the issue to some extent. These phones are connected to a jack hence they still continue to work even during power shutdown.

Cordless phones

In these phones, the handset is entirely wireless having a shorter range. These phones offer mobility that was a prominent feature not available in the previous category. Certain phones in this category use multiple receivers on one single base. But the negative aspect of these phones is that they don’t work during power cut offs.

Whether wired or otherwise, these landline phone services offer a number of facilities based on the users’ convenience that makes these phones comfortable for all to be used.

These phones are made compatible to meet the requirements of people with special needs.

• Amplified sound, blinking lights makes these phones user friendly for people with hearing difficulties.
• Large keypad with braille comes handy for people who use these phones given the fact that they are visually impaired.

The ongoing trend has seen a decline in these landline phone services as a result of advancements in the field of technology.

In today’s world, the gadget that has conveniently replaced the traditional landline is the cellular devices largely known as the cell phones. They use radio waves for connectivity giving it an edge over the landline. Cell phones are commonly known as mobile phones which is a self-explanatory term in itself that highlights the biggest advantage that this device has got to offer its users is its mobility that has been the prime reason for loss of market for the landlines.

With the rise in the sale of cell phones proved have an adverse impact on that of the landline as people switched over to the modern means of telecommunication. The number of landline users drastically have dropped due to the cellular devices or internet based gadgets.

Even though this invention was globally accepted well some of the landline users still have not taken the leap yet considering the traditional old school mode of communication to be a better choice if you plan to work from home as it provides clear and stronger reception.

Landlines are way better during an emergency as compared to a cell phone because when you make a call to the emergency portal like calling 911, via the former the location gets traced spot on. However, a call through the cell phone is first routed to the nearest emergency center thereafter the GPS is used to locate the person. Making an overseas call is cheaper via the landline than calling from the cell phone or VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).

Also, landline provide better security from hackers who again easy access to the cellular devices or VoIP calls.

Having been able to offer plus points yet the landline finds it tough to compete with the technically sophisticated rivals in the market.

The evolution of the cordless phones couldn’t create much of an impact on the cell phone market because even though it offers certain mobility yet it is required to be near its base to make a call.

Cellular devices and other similar gadgets have developed and advanced, offering services far more than just its primary purpose of placing a call.

The palm sized gadget now enables the access to the internet that makes communication free of all kinds of barriers. But using internet to make a call via the new devices is seen to be far costlier than making the same call by a landline.

Small entrepreneurs are seen opting in for VoIP is cheap, right from the installation stage to performing its functions. But when there is a power outage or unexpected internet disconnection these devices become dysfunctional.

It is predicted that by the 2025 landlines will vanish completely from the face of the Earth. As per the survey in 2013 a large proportion of the US population consisting of adults were cell phone users.

The survey conducted by Center for Disease Control and Prevention brought to light on 4th May 2017 that, 50.8% of the American households used cell phones.