Global research conducted by Market and Opinion Research International (MORI) has identified a strong trend emerging that sees consumers getting rid of their landlines in favour of making all calls from their mobiles.
The main motivation for people to dump their landline has been the cost of wireless services which have become quite attractive in comparison to residential phone services - especially with the advent of the "˜capped plans' offered by the major carriers.
However, while this new trend is fast gaining momentum, it is not without its obstacles.
Getting a strong signal throughout the house or apartment on a mobile phone can be problematic, and often the user can be confined to certain areas.
Of mobile phone calls, participating parties admit that it rarely measures up to landline quality.
Also, there is the problem of what phone the babysitter uses? Or a partner when the other goes out? Or a guest if your already on your phone?
There's the fact that it will cost your friends and family calling you from landlines more, as they will have to call a mobile number.
Additionally, alarm systems, fax machines and internet all rely on a phone line to receive and transmit information "“ something which is disconnected when the land line is dumped.
However, one solution that claims to combat these setbacks is another landline replacement solution called a Fixed Cellular Terminal, which can be used in conjunction with a mobile to meet all of ones telecommunication needs.
This Ericsson product emulates a landline, but uses a GSM sim card to transmit over the cellular network - just like a normal mobile phone.
This means the user can either use their mobile phone's sim card (once enabled for internet and faxing), or use a pre paid monthly call cap plan, significantly reducing their phone bill.
The FCT connects to a landline handset, so people can use their existing home phones, even cordless phones with the voice quality of a normal landline.
FCT's are fixed and provide connection for a high gain antenna compared to the typical antenna on a mobile, which means a higher quality signal than a mobile.
Marketing Manager for Powertec (the Australian distributor for the Ericsson FCT), Paul Boyce, said "FCT's, while working through the cellular network, provide call quality identical to that of a normal land line phone".
Fax and internet can plug into an FCT which combats the problem of not having a phone line.
The FCT also eliminates any monthly line rentals.
If consumers use a FCT they get the best of both worlds: reliable, identical voice quality in a home phone service that can be bundled at a very low additional cost with a mobile service, and the ability to connect all home electronic devices, not just telephones.
