NYTimes.com:
Back in Japan, we still needed a landline for international calls up until 2005; then we didn't need it anymore but kept it because it's such a tremendous hassle to nix it. Upon returning to the US, I can't imagine having a landline anymore. Even in my building where the reception is a bit spotty in spots. For god's sake, WHY, WHY?"No matter how many times an AT&T technician comes out to the house, the static always comes back. The technicians can replace sections of the aging wire, fixing the static for a few weeks, but like rust or wrinkles, it always returns.
Given that I pay $16 per month for the minimum plan to keep a landline in the house, and that several industry analysts have estimated that it costs Ma Bell between $100 and $200 each time a technician visits my home, this is not a winning equation for the phone company."
