Everic White

Social media, audience, product management, SEO strategy & journalism

Dear House Phones



I was watching some sporting event last night (I must have flipped back and forth between football and baseball 100 times), I saw a commercial for home phone service provided by Vonage, and had to snicker at the idea of a home phone. Then I wondered the last time I'd ever received anyone's home phone number. Home phones, you're dead. Cell phones have made you useless. You are to cell phones what CD Walkmans are to iPods. That's probably why it cost $20 a month for unlimited home phone service. People are attached to their cell phones in ways that are innumerable. With the rise of pocket PC's, there's no real need to be tethered to a desk or stationary, meaning that you, home phones get abandoned faster than a rabid dog.

Let me tell you something though. I'll always miss you guys. Along with being a more personal line of conduct to have, you gave us security against anyone we didn't want to get too 'personal' with. I know some heads out there would be shook if back in the day, the wrong person had been calling their 'house phone'. Also, having a cell phone is more or less the equivalent of having a $100-a-month tracking device on you. Though, at the same time, a home phone is more easily tracked than a cell phone. I suppose in this day and age, surveillance is inevitable, but having the domiciliary security of a home phone was comforting. Home phones, you will sorely be missed. Well, kinda. Hold on.. I gotta Twitter something..