Third of users ready to dump the landline

The move to wireless is primarily a 'lifestyle' issue

Up to 37 per cent of US mobile phone users will dump their fixed line home phones entirely by 2009, In-Stat predicted today.

The analyst firm estimates that some 9.4 per cent of US mobile subscribers currently use a wireless phone for all voice calls, and fewer consumers feel that a wired phone is necessary compared with earlier surveys.

"Those considering wireless substitution for landlines are primarily motivated by lifestyle issues as long as they don't have to give up much in terms of quality, reliability or services," said In-Stat analyst David Chamberlain.

"Wireless carriers can stimulate substitution by continuing to attract customers to advanced wireless features and educating them about availability of number portability."

The In-Stat report found that consumers most likely to consider replacing their landline phone with wireless are those who are already heavy wireless users. Demographics did not offer much insight into the likelihood of wireless substitution.

Among those with a wireless and landline phone, resistance to wireless substitution dropped dramatically since In-Stat's 2003 survey.

Barriers to landline replacement, particularly in-building coverage and perceived inconvenience (such as losing DSL or having to change the phone number), are resolvable with other technologies, continued network build-out or consumer education, the report found.