Talking Telephones (NAPSA)—When it comes to helping your family stay safe during emergencies, it may be a smartcall to keep the cord. Landline—or corded—phones work in power outages and never need to be charged. Experts say that makes them oneof the best ways to call for help or to simply stay in touch with people when bad weather or other emergencies hit. Additionally, the lines are instantly traceable, meaning emergency personnel can locate someone whocalls 911 for help, even if he or she is unable to speak. Conversely, the location of a cell phone can’t always be tracked. Keeping Talk Cheap Also important, landlines could help save families money. Providers often offer discounts for landline service when combined or “bundled” with other services such as Internet or television. Of course, you do not need to pay for cable or Internet to use a corded phone—a key difference between landlines and “digital” phone (or VoIP) service. These services require a broadband Internet connection to function, possibly adding to a household’s costs but also meaning that when Internet service goes down, the digital phones no longer work. power is out and the cable and Internet are down. Additionally, corded landlines are essentially a fixed cost. They have no overage charges for minutes used or airtime allowances. Those savings can quickly add up. Local Service In many parts of the country, you can even get landline service from a local company with a nearbyoffice. For instance, members of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association have employees wholive in the communities they serve and who have a vested interest in providing a quality product. For more information about landlines, how they might save you money and even help keep you safe, visit www.ntca.org or call (703) 351-2000.
