Landline vs Mobile

Are landline numbers still needed?

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Are landline numbers and handsets still neccesary for use in office as mobiles now pretty much do everything a landline can do plus more, in particualar its advangtage of mobility (use from anywhere). With the upcoming 5G network, the lines should be alot smoother and clearer. Mobile contracts pretty much cost the same as a landline and practically will give you unlimited data, text and minutes. Plus as most of the new softwares and banks provide apps for ease of use, i can use them on the same mobile. So im thinking of scrapping the landline all together and just using a mobile (with a good number). What do members think?  

Replies (24)

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By Calculatorboy
02nd Nov 2020 23:53

Eons ago mobile only was associated with something very dodgy,
Now its the norm and can't wait for 5g so can dump landline for Internet.

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By Mr_awol
03rd Nov 2020 00:58

Perhaps it shouldn’t matter but to me a practice listing just a mobile number would look a little like a sideline to me, rather than a ‘proper’ business.

If you’re openly a work from home one man band though I guess why not?

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Replying to Mr_awol:
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By jonharris999
03rd Nov 2020 06:38

I agree with Mr Awol's inclination but don't have a landline at home-office, so I've been getting round this lately by using a freephone 0800 number which diverts to my mobile. Seems to work well. Costs about a tenner a month, very occasionally more.

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Replying to jonharris999:
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By spilly
05th Nov 2020 21:01

Yes we’ve done the same thing and can also divert it to another staff mobile when required. Clients seem to like the idea of getting a ‘free’ call to us.

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Replying to jonharris999:
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By spilly
05th Nov 2020 21:06

Sorry, duplicate - answer still shows as unposted when tabbing back.

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Melchett
By thestudyman
03rd Nov 2020 08:18

I mean if you were a builder or handyman sort of trade then a mobile on its own is fine. But a professional like an accountant, I would expect a landline number. Obviously it can divert to a mobile number but I think from a client perspective it may "look" like more professional.

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By tltodman
03rd Nov 2020 08:23

Would you not need a landline anyway for a broadband service? Or are you planning to use mobile networks for all your internet access too?

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Replying to tltodman:
By SteveHa
03rd Nov 2020 11:02

tltodman wrote:

Would you not need a landline anyway for a broadband service? Or are you planning to use mobile networks for all your internet access too?

I hope not. Following my recent home move, I have broadband (FTTP) with no landline in sight.

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Replying to tltodman:
Pile of Stones
By Beach Accountancy
05th Nov 2020 12:11

If you have broadband, get a VOIP phone with a local number. Cheap, especially if you don't use it to call out :)

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Replying to Beach Accountancy:
By SteveHa
05th Nov 2020 15:07

The lack of a landline is not an issue for me. I have an all inclusive mobile contract.

However, VOIP phones are coming from my employer for home working.

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blue sheep
By NH
03rd Nov 2020 08:31

You do not need a landline to have a landline number, for a fairly low cost we have two local numbers, and 0800 number and an 0844 that all divert to a mobile.

We use TTNC and have done for years.

As it happens we do also have a standard landline number for the office but we do not really need that.

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Replying to NH:
By Charlie Carne
05th Nov 2020 10:55

08 numbers are not recommended now, as they have been superseded by 03 numbers. For your clients and prospects, calls to 03 numbers are charged by all networks (by law) at the same rate as calls to geographic numbers (and thus usually included in unlimited free call bundles from most mobiles). A call from a mobile to an 0844 number is prohibitively expensive and I refuse to deal with any company that only offers 0844/0845/0870/0871 numbers on which to call them. Whilst 0800 remains free for most callers, it is very old-fashioned and should be replaced by 0300.

EDIT
Some years ago, I noticed that the CEO of a client had huge mobile phone costs and, on investigation, discovered that she was calling her office for an hour or more each day from her mobile, when she was out of the office, using the 0845 number that they publicised to the public. When I advised her to amend the number stored in her phone to the (secret) underlying 020 geographic number instead, her mobile phone costs dropped by over £300 pm!

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A Putey FACA
By Arthur Putey
03rd Nov 2020 09:58

I get the point about professional image, however I do think landlines are archaic. Almost all the calls to our landlines are sales calls, clients tend to use mobiles, email and even WhatsApp. With lockdown and increased home working I don't think it matters "these days".

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By Andy556
03rd Nov 2020 10:31

I've never had a landline and no clients have ever asked why. I still get inquiries through google even though it only shows a mobile. I very much doubt this affects my business.

It seems a very old fashioned view that an office needs a landline or it's unprofessional. If I don't get clients with this view then it's probably for the best as I do everything using modern technology so it's unlikely they would like this.

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Replying to Andy556:
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By Mr_awol
05th Nov 2020 11:51

Andy556 wrote:

I've never had a landline and no clients have ever asked why. I still get inquiries through google even though it only shows a mobile. I very much doubt this affects my business.

It seems a very old fashioned view that an office needs a landline or it's unprofessional. If I don't get clients with this view then it's probably for the best as I do everything using modern technology so it's unlikely they would like this.

I don't think anyone said it was unprofessional (certainly that wasn't my point). There are, however, a couple of things that scream 'working from home in the evenings/weekends, or just starting out'. Amongst them are hotmail/gmail email addresses, and mobile numbers. Personally I would avoid both.

It isnt about an old fashioned view it's about general image. There's no doubt in my mind that the above look a bit 'smalltime'. Now some may promote that as a strength but personally i would expect it to disproportionately attract the bargain bucket end of the market. If you are actively promoting the one-man-band work-from-home approach as a personal service at low prices then fair enough. At the end of the day though, if you are glad to be missing out on clients because of your own preconceptions about them then that's your lookout.

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Replying to Mr_awol:
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By Calculatorboy
05th Nov 2020 17:36

Quite a few international firms are now using mobiles exclusively, you need to move with the times

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Scooby
By gainsborough
03rd Nov 2020 11:54

I was using Vodafone One Net (landline attached to a mobile) but switched to just a mobile number around 6 months ago with all the extra WFH. A lot of my clients just use mobile numbers themselves so responded positively. Lack of a landline may put off new "cold" clients who don't come via existing client recommendations but that is the only downside I've come across.

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By Taxain
03rd Nov 2020 14:33

I understand what everyone is saying about professionalism but I still feel inclined to agree with Andy556, nowadays pretty much everyone is using a mobile, whatsapp and other such apps. I work on a cloud-based model so most clients that are coming through are generally tech-savvy. Landlines seem like something of the past.

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By Michael Beaver
04th Nov 2020 11:43

Just because you CAN go without, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Whether you should, depends how many staff you have, and if you need someone else to answer the phone, and the ability to transfer calls around staff or between offices.

We've got BT Cloud phones, so they use our internet connection but have landline numbers attached to them. We can choose which handset will ring, covering staff leave.

Also, many clients seem to like calling a local number.

And after 6 years of being always on call, it's nice that most of the calls to our office are now answered by our bookkeeper/office manager and leave me uninterrupted by my mobile phone every 15 minutes.

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By tracey2412
05th Nov 2020 10:37

I agree that perception is a thing & a landline still seems a 'proper' thinkg to have.

I have a local landline number through a company called voipfone, costs £4 a month.
I can choose where to divert it at any time - so to my mobile, to another landline, to a voicemail box but I have it diverted permanently to an answering service who filter out the spam, cold sales calls & take any messages from 'real' people / clients which is then texted & emailed so I can prioritise when to reply. I could choose to have them patch through - all or specific - but that costs more & I don't need it.

I also divert my mobile to the service when I need Do Not Disturb. It's a godsend to get work done in peace, knowing anything urgent will still get flagged.
I have enough clutter on my desk that another piece of equipment (a 'real' phone) would just get in the way!

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By bendybod
05th Nov 2020 10:49

Depends upon where you live too! My mobile signal and 4G coverage is shocking in the office and isn't always great out and about around town. I wouldn't consider losing the landline completely at the moment. Clients predominantly still call the landline - probably for the same reason. If you are using a landline then I think the inclination of many is still to call a landline, even though it may not cost any more to call a mobile.

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By Paul Crowley
05th Nov 2020 11:56

When I am on the landline, I know the bad connection is the other person's issue.
A firm on accountants with no landline? I think part timer operating from home

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Replying to Paul Crowley:
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By Calculatorboy
05th Nov 2020 17:38

really get with the times , even international firms are going pretty much mobile only

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By North East Accountant
05th Nov 2020 12:43

Client rings company phone line, Donald answers but client wants to speak to Joe.

How's that work using mobile phones?

Is anyone getting lease dedicated lines or just using run of the mill broadband?

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