Global economic uncertainty and the effects of the credit crunch are accelerating the rate at which consumers ditch landline phones, new research suggests.

A recent IDC survey of more than 1,500 US households found that consumers who had abandoned traditional wired telephones cited the cost of keeping a fixed and wireless phone as the number one reason for axing their landline service.

The research noted that the number of US customers without a landline has increased every year since 2004.

The number of customers who have never subscribed to a landline more than doubled from 2007-2008, and 16 per cent of the US population is now without a landline.

IDC found that cost-conscious younger consumers are more than twice as likely not to subscribe to both wire-line and cellular services.

"Wire-line displacement by wireless will continue to increase due to growing comfort with cutting the cord and the cost savings," said Irene Berlinsky, a research analyst for multi-play services at IDC.

"This will accelerate in the near future as consumers tighten their belts to ride out the economic downturn."