Good-bye Land Lines? -- What does AI think?

 Who Knew? Did You?

FYI: Apps go Mobile; Landlines, laptops languish.

AI Overview = Entire Reply/Answer from Google search on "Is there an ongoing effort to get people to use cellphone for all business, family, every call?")

Yes, there is an ongoing, industry-driven, and technological effort to shift all personal and business communication to mobile devices

, driven by the rapid, intentional phasing out of traditional landline copper networks. As of late 2023, 76% of American adults live in homes with no landline, relying solely on wireless, a massive increase from about 5% twenty years ago. 

Here is a breakdown of the efforts driving this shift:

1. The Corporate "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) Trend 

Businesses are increasingly encouraging or requiring employees to use their personal cellphones for work, a policy known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). 

• Cost Reduction: Companies save money by not purchasing, maintaining, and replacing separate work phones.
• Constant Access: The goal is to ensure employees are reachable for business matters, including during evenings and weekends.
• Technology Shift: Companies are using apps (e.g., Aircall) that allow employees to have a separate, professional business number on their personal smartphone, making the use of one device for all calls seamless. 

2. The Systematic Phase-Out of Landlines

Telecom providers are actively moving away from traditional copper-based phone lines, which are expensive to maintain. 

• The "Copper" Shutdown: AT&T and other carriers are planning to phase out traditional, analog copper lines entirely in many areas by 2027–2029.
• Alternative Solutions: Rather than fixing old copper lines, companies are pushing users to "wireless home phones" or fiber-based voice services (VoIP) that function similarly to a mobile experience. 

3. Societal Shift to Mobile-Only Households 

The move to mobile is as much a consumer choice as a corporate push. 

• High Adoption Rates: About 95% of Americans own a cell phone, with 77% having a smartphone.
• Younger Demographic Driving Force: For younger generations, the landline is essentially obsolete, with over 88% of adults aged 25-29 relying solely on a cell phone.
• Features & Convenience: Smartphones are increasingly used as "mini-computers" for shopping, banking, and, overwhelmingly, as the primary communication tool. 

4. Exceptions and Challenges

Despite this effort, the shift is not universal or without pushback.

• Emergency Reliability: Landlines are generally more reliable during power outages or when cellphone towers are down.
• Demographic Differences: While 73% of homes use only cell phones, a significant portion of the population, particularly older adults (65+), still maintain landlines for comfort and reliability.
• Security Concerns: Some employees are wary of using personal phones for work due to privacy concerns regarding employer access to personal devices. 

In summary, while there is no legal requirement to use only a mobile phone, the telecommunications industry and many businesses are aggressively phasing out landlines to move everyone toward a "mobile-first" (or mobile-only) system.