Cutting the Cord

The price of everything is going up - gas, food, clothes - everything! Many Americans are looking at their budgets trying to find areas to cut in order to afford the necessities of life. One of the things Americans are cutting are their landlines - they are getting rid of their phones. They are not getting rid of their communication devices just those that are connected by a wire.

According to a new study released from The Nielsen Company, more than 20 million households (17% of the United States) are wireless substitutors - homes without landlines that rely solely on a mobile phone for their home telecommunications. That number is looking to increase to one in five U.S. households by the end of 2008.

Those that are cutting cord tend to:

• Lower income - 59% have household incomes of $40,000 or less
• Have smaller households - one to two residents
• Move or change jobs regularly
• Use their mobile phones more than their landlines (45% more)

The study revealed that cutting the landline isn't for everyone. Ten percent of those that went to mobile only ended up going back to their landline service. Some of the reasons for going back ranged from needing a landline for satellite television to needing one for their secruity system.
Click here or more information the Nielsen study and to download their white paper.