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."
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