Saying Goodbye To Landlines Forever?

It's the end of an era. Landlines across the U.S. will be phased out.

I admit, I'm probably one of the only people in my age group that still has a landline. And I am made fun of constantly. Pfthththt - raspberries to them!

Phone companies are now switching to a new infrastructure that doesn't support landlines. And only about 5% of landlines will remain by the year 2030. That's only six years away.

In 2020, during the pandemic, my cell phone died. Of course I couldn't just go to my local Apple Genius Bar to have it looked at, because we were sequestered in our homes. So I had to call Apple support which everyone else had to do as well. So I had to sit on hold - on a $9 dollar landline phone, that I had to plug into my wall! WHAT? Yes kids - PLUG INTO MY WALL!!

Now, having any phone plugged in the wall will be a thing of the past. Copper wire-based lines are moving out, and more advanced technology will move in. Like fiber optics - and that doesn't work with landlines. Believe it or not, AT&T just applied for a waiver that would allow it to stop servicing traditional landlines in California. But AT&T is not canceling landline service in California or anywhere else. At least not yet.

Suffice it to say, this "cell phone" thing is not just a passing fad. The days of having a built in fidget spinner, and twirling your fingers around the long curly cord of your rotary phone are gone, but never forgotten. "MOM - I'M ON THE PHONE!!!" Consider it all just vintage and retro now.

There was a time when landlines were a lot cheaper and much more reliable compared to cell phones. But they say that's about to be the reverse. I find that hard to believe, since cell phones still sound like garbage, for the most part. But landlines are still clear as a bell. I can't help but think it will just be MORE expensive, and LESS reliable.

Many households dumped their landlines years ago. But the landline system actually going away will impact some older folks, small businesses, and people who live in remote areas. For those in remote areas, that may be their only access to 9-1-1. There are currently around 100 million landlines, between business and residential, that are active in the U.S, according to CNN.

Next up to say so long? Probably 'Take a penny, leave a penny.' Does anyone actually take a penny? No. People just LEAVE them now, because they don't want them. And, parking spots labeled "compact."  When is the last time you saw someone in a biga** Ford F-150 pass up a spot because it's meant for a Kia Forte?  I'll answer for you - NEVER.

Goodbye to the landline. Thank you for the memories!

Signs you're in your 40's -- they're not pretty, but those "signs" will be with you forever.

Oh, it will happen and it's baffling. Don't spend the morning trying to figure it out -- just take the Ibuprofen.

And you only had those two glasses of wine! Don't try to figure it out. Again -- just take the Ibuprofen.

And his name is CLIPPY! Look him up -- he was fabulous.

"You won't always have a calculator in your pocket!" Umm, hi -- Mr. Johnson? I'm calling you from my calculator.

Kids, this is how you "googled" begore Google - you asked "Jeeves." Google it.

A WHAT Matrix WHAT?? Well, at least know what the holes on the sides of printer paper were for...

Then they laughed because they just needed it to clear your self check-out scan.

Nope that's all you. Truly, you sound like a bowl of Rice Crispies.

Bust a move -- but don't hurt yourself. This is truly how you know that you reached the "hill" at least. When the elevator or grocery store music is the same as your school dances. Or, when your music suddenly becomes "throwbacks."