The death of the landline may be a slow one yet as new research has revealed that the good old devices are still being used by a staggering amount of Aussies every single day.
While it’s easy to think mobile phones are loved by all and that landlines have been long forgotten, a study carried out by comparison site Finder.com.au has shown a total of 64 per cent of people who have switched over to NBN have actually chosen to hold onto their fixed line.
On top of this, a whopping 39 per cent of that group are still using their home telephone to make phone calls, contrary to popular belief.
While handy little smartphones may be good for searching on google or updating social media, landlines are still a useful device and something that it seems many are keen to keep around. In fact, it’s Baby Boomers who are reportedly the most common users, with the generation accounting for a whopping 72 per cent of all landline users.
This new research has proven quite surprising for some, including Finder Tech Expert Alex Kidman who thought the introduction of the NBN would clear out the landlines for good. “The NBN was thought to be the nail in the coffin for landline phones but this research shows that may not be the case,” Kidman said.
It also may shock other researchers who earlier this year claimed landlines would most likely disappear by 2037, with only half of Aussie families having one by 2021.
While there is still a surprising amount of people who prefer the more practical mobiles to communicate through text or messaging apps, others are still not ready to part with the much-loved fixed lines. However, there is still a decline, with research by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), revealing in 2017 64 per cent of Aussies used a landline phone, down from 70 per cent in 2015 and 76 per cent in 2013.
“The landline used to be the ultimate way to connect with family and friends, but its prevalence and importance in the household has been steadily declining for a number of years,” Kidman explained. “Whether it’s laziness or the feelings of nostalgia associated with a home phone, some Aussies insist on holding onto their landline even if they don’t use it.”