Privacy and Surveillance Blog

BBC NEWS | Technology | Home phones face uncertain future

The fixed line phone in your home could soon be an endangered species.

Research by handset maker Nokia shows that more and more people are using their mobile phone for every call they make or take.

According to the study, more than 45 million people in the UK, Germany, US and South Korea now only use a mobile.

It showed that people keep their fixed line phone because call charges are lower, but most of those questioned said the future was definitely mobile.

Cheaper calls

The Nokia-sponsored research showed that mobiles and fixed phones were used for different purposes.

Home phones were used for longer calls but conversations on mobiles tended to be shorter, between mobiles and to friends.

In the UK 69% of those questioned said they turned to their fixed phone because it was still cheaper to use than a mobile.

However, when pressed few could say with accuracy how tariffs on fixed and mobile phones compared.

In the US and Germany

Source: BBC