Technology is forever changing and evolving. Not long ago, every household had a home phone, cell phones were not a necessity, and those who did have them likely only used them for phone calls and the occasional game of Snake. Today we see that most homes have done away with landlines but they are still essential in the business world.
Plain old telephone service, also known as POTS, has been a staple for telephone service since the 1880s.
POTS are the copper wires we see running between telephone poles, carrying voice from one place to another. As technology continues to change and advance it only makes sense that traditional telephone service will as well. Copper wires are an aging infrastructure which is getting more expensive for phone companies to maintain. Due to these higher maintenance costs, it has driven up the price of service for consumers. Big broadband providers are driving customers to wireless and fiber lines for their phone service to reduce the number of lines the provider is responsible to maintain and support. Companies like AT&T have already began phasing out POTS with plans to be completely phased out shortly. Although this retirement date is always changing, eventually it will come.
Since the FCC allowed telecom providers to begin the transition to sunset their POTS lines in 2017, providers have been increasing he prices to push customers towards replacement services.
Copper POTS lines are used for more than just making phone calls. They are also used for fax lines, security alarms, elevators, gate systems, and even point of sale solutions. There are several different options for businesses to consider for new phone lines for voice, but the replacement options for fax lines, security, and other essential business pieces can be more complex. POTS lines have historically been the best option for these types of needs. because if the power is out, they can still be used.
One alternative is LTE connectivity, which different providers and vendors state is more stable and reliable.
LTE connectivity isn’t affected by inclement weather and because it’s cheaper to maintain, delays in fixing down service aren’t as frequent with traditional POTS. It is also predicted to cut costs for the customer since it’s easier for providers to support this service. Although the monthly recurring cost may be cheaper, there may be a larger cost upfront. There are more alternatives in the works but as far as replacing fax and security lines, LTE seems to be the best option at this time.
The world is evolving, and technology is changing to adapt to the faster and more reliable needs of the businesses and households of today. Retiring POTS lines has been a goal of providers for several years and the true end date is unknown, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get ahead of it.
Call us today and discover how Verify! can help your business make the move to a more modern solution before it’s too late.
