Landline Cancel

WillyHeckaslike · 22nd May 2020, 08:47

Our landline deal is coming up for renewal in the next month and I'm not sure that I want to keep it. However I would like to keep the phone number but is there a way I wonder of doing this for free in the UK. I suspect that it can be done for a fee by porting it to a virtual landline service but that and the ongoing cost for such a service will defeat the main purpose of the exercise - which is to reduce costs and consolidate them in the one provider. I've seen some advising to port it to Google Voice for its current one-off $20 fee which would be ok if Google offered that service in the UK but I don't think that it does ... US and Canada only from what I've read. Anyone done what I'm thinking of or got any advice or suggestions?

BigRuss · 22nd May 2020, 10:37

Yes you can, you just arrange with your new provider and they'll transfer your number over.

Have done it twice now in recent years

Russ

WillyHeckaslike · 22nd May 2020, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRuss

Yes you can, you just arrange with your new provider and they'll transfer your number over. Have done it twice now in recent years

Russ

Ah, looking at my post again I see it is not clear from it what I have in mind. What my intention to do Russ is to bin the landline altogether, not just my current deal, and then move over to a sim-only mobile broadband and phone deal. If I do so initially I expect to access the net by tethering my mobile phone to my laptop but I have been looking at routers with a sim card slot which provides for a 4G/5G broadband service via the mobile phone network. Landline numbers I know can be transferred to another ISP who will deliver the service via the same means, that is a landline or cable/fibre, but porting a landline to a mobile phone I don't think is generally allowed. I've asked 3G if it is possible and they said no, not with them only mobile phone numbers allowed to be ported. Vodafone do seem to offer a service which allows for landline porting but it comes at a price and with some specific requirements and I'm not sure if it is available in the UK.

Les4048 · 22nd May 2020, 12:20

There’s a young lass I work with and she has no landline only a 4G router. She uses it for Netflix etc but no idea of the cost but what you’re proposing can certainly be done. In fact I’m considering buying my mother’s house and doing the very same thing

RoverP480 · 22nd May 2020, 12:30

I know that a lot of people have gone mobile only but in my view a landline has the big advantage that it will work with total electrical power failure as it runs on its own power from the exchange which has its own backup . ( None cordless phone needed, that's why I keep a corded one at home for the same reason.

macafee2 · 22nd May 2020, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoverP480

I know that a lot of people have gone mobile only but in my view a landline has the big advantage that it will work with total electrical power failure as it runs on its own power from the exchange which has its own backup . ( None cordless phone needed, that's why I keep a corded one at home for the same reason.

BT used to recommend having a corded phone for the very reason you mention. Is there still 50v on the end of a fibre cable?

macafee2

Teflon · 22nd May 2020, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les4048

There’s a young lass I work with and she has no landline only a 4G router. She uses it for Netflix etc but no idea of the cost but what you’re proposing can certainly be done. In fact I’m considering buying my mother’s house and doing the very same thing

Thing is though Les, as I understand it, Willy wants to retain his current landline number for use on the mobile, and this is where the problem lies. I don't think it can be done to be honest, but happy to be proven wrong (won't be the first time

).

Cliff

WillyHeckaslike · 22nd May 2020, 13:03

Yes, the 4G router service is definitely available and I suspect a growing number of people are opting for it as the cost of mobile data allowances seems to have dropped to very competitive levels with those of a landline. 4G is the way I'm looking to go but as Teflon said retaining our long-standing landline number without a landline is what I would like to do, but only for free or a one-off fee as per Google Voice. I suspect that a virtual landline might be the only way of doing it regardless of how it is advertised but I've not yet seen any free offers for that service and the only viable option for me would be Google Voice if it were available here in the UK. Google I think might offer a way of doing it in a roundabout way in the UK but not for a $20 one-off fee. From what I've read it is aimed at its business customers and requires a subscription to two of its services.

As I said earlier, Vodafone offers a service, it is called Vodafone Mobile Landline Service, but it is not free and is likely a virtual landline affair. Click

alanaslan · 22nd May 2020, 23:01

This takes me back. When we bought our current house I had it wired Cat5. The problem with the domestic line was that the cable from the exchange was a 500tp cable to the Lucy in the main road. The cable was old and degraded. Every intact cable had a shunt on it to try to carry the traffic demands.
Then God saw our need and put in fibre from the exchange to a new Lucy on the main road that would be five years ago. I contacted BT or whatever they call themselves and asked to be connected to the new system, they told me it was not available in my area. So I gave Sky a call they had me connected to the new Lucy within 3 days, work carried out by BT. Sadly the speed was very slow. I am talking dial up speeds. Contacted Sky who gave me the if the problem was in my houses wiring then I would be charged. BT came out and knocked on my door telling me that the fault must be in my house as thy had tested the line and it was fine .
I spoke nicely to the BT man and explained that all he had done was test the speed to the Lucy. I invited him in made him a coffee and opened the patch panel detached the two incoming copper wires and asked him very nicely to check the speed on the incoming wires. Yes he did and the speed was not fast it was very slow. So I got free internet for the next 3 years until the copper cable to the street and to the house was replaced. At last now we have broadband speeds. Though the patch panel has a 3/4G wireless router on the Smarty network part of 3. More than half the time the house is running on the 4g system as it is faster and more stable than the BT wires Sky charge me for.
If it was not for the fact that we have had the same phone number since we got married. We would not have the land line. The service on the Smarty SIM card is fantastic and their customer care is great for a company who don’t have a customer care dept. They have resolved any issues or services I have been looking for by email within 10 hours. Including providing me with a mobile number that is the same as my house number with the exception of the first two digits the house is 01 the new mobile is 07.
I see land lines to be a thing of the past within the next twenty years.
Alan

WillyHeckaslike · 6th June 2020, 11:04

After mulling it over I made up my mind and decided to renew with Plusnet again for broadband and line rental only. No call package like previous years but mobiles are our preferred choice for calls anyway and have been for some years so a call package while nice to have won't really be missed. We will be paying ~ £18/mth on a 1yr contract for broadband and line only which apparently is a discounted price given to us as long-standing customers on the standard price of ~ £20/mth. Not as cheap as the mobile options that I've been looking at such as one from 3 who were and might still be offering unlimited everything for £16/mth on a 2yr contract. But we get to keep our familiar landline number which I'm not really happy to part with atm if ever and I take some satisfaction in knowing that with Plusnet the money will be supporting jobs in the UK and our economy and taxes.

The mobile options however have given me food for thought and I think BT/Openreach might be thinking of pulling analogue services in 2025. So with impending change afoot it is likely that I will revisit the options sooner rather than later as will I suspect a growing number of people. But for now, I've given myself another year to think about it and to weigh up the pros and the cons.

22nd May 2020, 08:47	#1
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,522 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	Landline Cancel Our landline deal is coming up for renewal in the next month and I'm not sure that I want to keep it. However I would like to keep the phone number but is there a way I wonder of doing this for free in the UK. I suspect that it can be done for a fee by porting it to a virtual landline service but that and the ongoing cost for such a service will defeat the main purpose of the exercise - which is to reduce costs and consolidate them in the one provider. I've seen some advising to port it to Google Voice for its current one-off $20 fee which would be ok if Google offered that service in the UK but I don't think that it does ... US and Canada only from what I've read. Anyone done what I'm thinking of or got any advice or suggestions?

22nd May 2020, 10:37	#2
BigRuss Premium Trader 75 CDT Tourer,2.5 Launch Saloon, Omipro MG/Rover (T4) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Liversedge, West Yorkshire Posts: 5,405 Thanks: 1,105 Thanked 1,340 Times in 661 Posts	Yes you can, you just arrange with your new provider and they'll transfer your number over. Have done it twice now in recent years Russ __________________ Replacement Key Service http://https://the75andztclub.co.uk/...d.php?t=244732 Full T4 Testbook diagnostics available. Diesel ECU repair and replacement. Options enabled or disabled as required. Diesel X-Power 135 and 160bhp, Rover 1.8T 150 to 160 MG 160 V6 to 177 upgrades available P.M. for details.

22nd May 2020, 12:20	#4
Les4048 This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer/ MG ZT-T 400 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lhanbryde Posts: 3,277 Thanks: 2,627 Thanked 1,523 Times in 869 Posts	There’s a young lass I work with and she has no landline only a 4G router. She uses it for Netflix etc but no idea of the cost but what you’re proposing can certainly be done. In fact I’m considering buying my mother’s house and doing the very same thing

22nd May 2020, 12:30	#5
RoverP480 Gets stuck in None at the moment Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Hereford Posts: 501 Thanks: 1 Thanked 165 Times in 146 Posts	I know that a lot of people have gone mobile only but in my view a landline has the big advantage that it will work with total electrical power failure as it runs on its own power from the exchange which has its own backup . ( None cordless phone needed, that's why I keep a corded one at home for the same reason.

22nd May 2020, 13:03	#8
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,522 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	Yes, the 4G router service is definitely available and I suspect a growing number of people are opting for it as the cost of mobile data allowances seems to have dropped to very competitive levels with those of a landline. 4G is the way I'm looking to go but as Teflon said retaining our long-standing landline number without a landline is what I would like to do, but only for free or a one-off fee as per Google Voice. I suspect that a virtual landline might be the only way of doing it regardless of how it is advertised but I've not yet seen any free offers for that service and the only viable option for me would be Google Voice if it were available here in the UK. Google I think might offer a way of doing it in a roundabout way in the UK but not for a $20 one-off fee. From what I've read it is aimed at its business customers and requires a subscription to two of its services. As I said earlier, Vodafone offers a service, it is called Vodafone Mobile Landline Service, but it is not free and is likely a virtual landline affair. Click

22nd May 2020, 23:01	#9
alanaslan Gets stuck in 75 Tourer Automatic conn, 75 Saloon Automatic Conn, The Monograme Spice Tourer Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Johnstone Posts: 670 Thanks: 57 Thanked 231 Times in 151 Posts	This takes me back. When we bought our current house I had it wired Cat5. The problem with the domestic line was that the cable from the exchange was a 500tp cable to the Lucy in the main road. The cable was old and degraded. Every intact cable had a shunt on it to try to carry the traffic demands. Then God saw our need and put in fibre from the exchange to a new Lucy on the main road that would be five years ago. I contacted BT or whatever they call themselves and asked to be connected to the new system, they told me it was not available in my area. So I gave Sky a call they had me connected to the new Lucy within 3 days, work carried out by BT. Sadly the speed was very slow. I am talking dial up speeds. Contacted Sky who gave me the if the problem was in my houses wiring then I would be charged. BT came out and knocked on my door telling me that the fault must be in my house as thy had tested the line and it was fine . I spoke nicely to the BT man and explained that all he had done was test the speed to the Lucy. I invited him in made him a coffee and opened the patch panel detached the two incoming copper wires and asked him very nicely to check the speed on the incoming wires. Yes he did and the speed was not fast it was very slow. So I got free internet for the next 3 years until the copper cable to the street and to the house was replaced. At last now we have broadband speeds. Though the patch panel has a 3/4G wireless router on the Smarty network part of 3. More than half the time the house is running on the 4g system as it is faster and more stable than the BT wires Sky charge me for. If it was not for the fact that we have had the same phone number since we got married. We would not have the land line. The service on the Smarty SIM card is fantastic and their customer care is great for a company who don’t have a customer care dept. They have resolved any issues or services I have been looking for by email within 10 hours. Including providing me with a mobile number that is the same as my house number with the exception of the first two digits the house is 01 the new mobile is 07. I see land lines to be a thing of the past within the next twenty years. Alan

6th June 2020, 11:04	#10
WillyHeckaslike This is my second home Rovers 75 & 25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wearside Posts: 4,522 Thanks: 543 Thanked 709 Times in 511 Posts	After mulling it over I made up my mind and decided to renew with Plusnet again for broadband and line rental only. No call package like previous years but mobiles are our preferred choice for calls anyway and have been for some years so a call package while nice to have won't really be missed. We will be paying ~ £18/mth on a 1yr contract for broadband and line only which apparently is a discounted price given to us as long-standing customers on the standard price of ~ £20/mth. Not as cheap as the mobile options that I've been looking at such as one from 3 who were and might still be offering unlimited everything for £16/mth on a 2yr contract. But we get to keep our familiar landline number which I'm not really happy to part with atm if ever and I take some satisfaction in knowing that with Plusnet the money will be supporting jobs in the UK and our economy and taxes. The mobile options however have given me food for thought and I think BT/Openreach might be thinking of pulling analogue services in 2025. So with impending change afoot it is likely that I will revisit the options sooner rather than later as will I suspect a growing number of people. But for now, I've given myself another year to think about it and to weigh up the pros and the cons.