To begin, let’s look at the two key reasons why you may want to consider keeping your landline. Emergency calls using the 911 system can be easily traced from a landline, and it also serves as a good backup when your cell phone isn’t charged.

These two reasons for keeping a landline are still valid, but not as much as they used to be. First, FCC rules now require that mobile phone companies provide all handsets with some way of tracing 911 calls. Some determine a caller’s rough location by triangulating the signal using different radio towers. Others use GPS chips embedded in the phones to locate callers. This method is accurate within 150 to 500 feet.

There is no disputing that a landline is a readily available backup when you forget to charge your mobile phone. However, is this reason enough to justify the money spent each month on landline service? Alternatively, you can use internet to phone technology as your backup. Providers of VoIP service such as MediaRing Talk enable users to make free online calls from their computer. Anyone who has a computer with an internet connection can take advantage of this service.

Besides being a good backup when your mobile phone isn’t working, using an internet phone service also let you make cheap international calls abroad. The difference in long distance per minute rates between VoIP providers and typical local phone companies can be substantial. For example, rates to landlines and mobile phone in most countries using MediaRing Talk are usually under two cents per minute.

Are there any valid reasons anymore to continue to pay for a landline? This depends on your specific situation. If you have spotty coverage where you live, relying on a mobile phone as your primary communications method might not be the best option. Or, if you have children who want to talk on the phone but who are too young for a mobile phone, this might be another good reason to continue to pay monthly to your local phone company. Of course, you might have a bundled plan with your local provider that includes cable, an internet connection, and a phone line. In this case, it might be less expensive to keep the landline.

The bottom line is that there remains pros and cons to doing away with a home landline. Whether or not it’s the right choice depends on your particular situation. Take a close look at your phone usage patterns and communication requirements, and you’ll be able to determine the right solution for you and your family.
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Before you start dialing everyone you know from your PC, you’ll need a few things first to get you started. First and foremost, an internet connection is necessary. You’ll also want to make sure that your PC has a microphone and speakers. Many users of Internet to phone service prefer to use a headset when making calls, and they are inexpensive and available at any PC or office supply store.

Once you have the right equipment to start dialing, you’ll need to choose a service provider. There are many that promote free PC to PC calls. The most notable of these is Skype, but there are countless others to choose from. The majority of these providers offer services that include instant messaging and a variety of other services along with the ability to make free calls directly from your computer. These services are great as long as you only need to call friends and families who are also users of the service. However, if you want to call anyone on a landline or a mobile phone, you’ll most likely have to sign up for a monthly calling plan that may or may not be cost effective. This is why it’s always important to comparison shop before choosing a provider of Internet to phone service and why it’s equally vital to read the fine print of any agreement or plan before you sign up.

One alternative to Skype and the other services that claim to have cheap phone calls is MediaRing Talk. The company uses an entirely different business model than the bulk of its competitors and actually offers free online phone calls to landlines and mobile phones in eight countries. You can call any phone within the United States, or call the UK, Canada, China, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Taiwan for free. There is no required subscription, and MediaRing Talk also offers free PC to PC calls to over 220 other global destinations. With over 3 and a half million users, a growing number of internet phone fans are enjoying the freedom of making free online phone calls.

To sign up for MediaRing Talk, you simply need to go to the company’s website and click on ‘Signup’. You’ll be asked a few questions, and you’ll need to assign yourself a user name that you’ll be asked to provide each time you sign into the service. Once you’ve completed the sign up process, you’ll be able to start making calls by dialing numbers directly from your computer.