If you have a "triple-play" with Comcast, dropping cable TV may not save you much. This is a marketing ploy to keep you on the hook. You can circumvent their game by dumping their phone service too.
Choices for telephone service:
• Cell phone as a home phone
- if your cell works at home do you really need a land line?
- if your cell doesn't work at home check out options below (or get a booster)
- to keep your land-line # you can transfer it to your cell phone
- bluetooth pairing can connect house phones to your cell
• Internet-based home phone service
- ooma was top-rated by Consumer Reports and Clark Howard ($40 porting fee)
- netTALK was PCMag's Editor's Choice ($20 porting fee)
- BasicTalk is available from Walmart (free porting)
- magicJack Plus costs less but was poorly rated ($10 porting fee)
- all IP phone systems connect to your internet router (required)
- connecting device to a phone jack makes other jacks work
- portable / can take with you on vacation
- faxing or monitored alarm systems may not be supported
- won't work during power a failure - cell phone is your backup
• Cell-based home phone service
- AT&T WIreless Home Phone
- Sprint Phone Connect
- StraightTalk (uses Verizon's network)
- Verizon Home Phone Connect
- use wireless cell phone signals
- doesn't require an internet connection or router
- connecting device to a phone jack makes other jacks work
- portable / can take with you on vacation
- faxing or monitored alarm systems may not be supported
- typically $20/month for unlimited nationwide minutes
Note: IP-based options require a broadband internet connection. Use hard-wired ethernet for best results.
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