Options for Telephone Service

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.