Did you know about the big phone switch off?

[Workingman]

It is going to happen in December 2025 so you have plenty of time to prepare.

Landlines are moving from analogue to digital, as this article explains.

You should not need to do anything unless you have a very old phone.

I am with Vodafone and the switch has already happened for me. I didn't like the sound quality when using my not too old phone so I got a new VOIP one for only a few pounds. Most of us will not notice any difference except that the phone will be plugged in to your broadband router instead of the wall phone socket.

Just a heads-up for those who missed the info.

[saundra]

Got a email from bt a few months ago mine will have to have an engineer I think because I have a media alarm gadget to sort out plus only a landline
But 2025 is in the future so anything can happen

[meriad]

thanks for that - makes sense really.

Will do some more looking it up

[cromwell]

It's already happened to me - yesterday.
I did as instructed and plugged the phone cable into the router. There is no dial tone now, but they say it might take 48 hours. I'm with BT for broadband.

Bet it takes longer than 48 hours.

[Workingman]

Ria, anybody, search for "cheap VOIP phones" and you will find known makes such as Cisco, NEC. Panasonic, Samsung etc. for about £20. As most of us now use mobiles for just about all communications we do not need all the bells and whistles, a bog standard one "pick up and talk" will do the job.

Cromwell, ring your landline from your mobile, that might wake it up. It worked for me.

[TheOstrich]

If it is going to have to be plugged into the router, that is going to be problematic here to put it mildly .....

[Workingman]

Ossie, your router should have an IP phone socket. Your broadband provider should send you an adapter so that you plug your old analogue phone in via that.

Mind you, you will eventually have to get a VOIP phone in order to keep up. They are cheap now, but as the deadline approaches you can bet they will get more expensive.

Buy now and save £s later.

[miasmum]

We unplugged our landline a long while ago

[cruiser2]

Yes,

I am with Virgin. Still have a landline with free week-end calls. I ask people to use it if they are phoning me as there are two extensions upstairs, one next to the
computer and one downstairs. This means I can hear the ring no matter where i am in the house. Can never remember where the mobile phone is.

Must ask them what is going to happen as my contract isdue for renewal soon. Still want the good deal I have got.

[meriad]

We unplugged our landline a long while ago

OK, going to ask a really daft question now - I have a landline purely because I always thought I need it for the internet / broadband to come into the property?