Browse Definitions :
Definition

landline

A landline is a telephone that transmits signals converted from audio data through physical media, such as wire or fibre optic cable, rather than through wireless transmission as is the case with mobile phones. The term landline is also sometimes used to refer to a dedicated line, which is a permanent connection between two locations. However, in recent years, the term is mostly used to differentiate fixed-line home phones from mobiles. 

There are two basic types of landlines. A corded landline is one that connects to the provider's cabling through a wall jack. The phone base and the receiver (or handset) are connected by a cord. In a cordless landline, the phone base connects to the cabling through a jack but the handset is connected wirelessly. The cordless phone's range is short, basically within the premises. Cordless landlines must also be plugged into the building's electrical system, which means that -- unlike corded landlines -- they don't function in power outages. 

An ongoing trend towards fixed-mobile substitution (FMS), in which users cancel landline services and rely solely upon cellular phone service, has resulted in a sharp reduction in the numbers of landline subscribers. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of all the households in the United States use cell phones exclusively, while less than eight percent use landlines exclusively.

Cord cutting, a related telecommunications trend, is the act of canceling traditional TV services in favor of other options or canceling landline service in favor of either cellular or VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) services. 

This was last updated in December 2016

Continue Reading About landline

Networking
  • voice over LTE (VoLTE)

    Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is a digital packet technology that uses 4G LTE networks to route voice traffic and transmit data.

  • ONOS (Open Network Operating System)

    Open Network Operating System (ONOS) is an OS designed to help network service providers build carrier-grade software-defined ...

  • telematics

    Telematics is a term that combines the words telecommunications and informatics to describe the use of communications and IT to ...

Security
  • three-factor authentication (3FA)

    Three-factor authentication (3FA) is the use of identity-confirming credentials from three separate categories of authentication ...

  • cyber espionage

    Cyber espionage (cyberespionage) is a type of cyber attack that malicious hackers carry out against a business or government ...

  • role-based access control (RBAC)

    Role-based access control (RBAC) is a method of restricting network access based on the roles of individual users within an ...

CIO
  • project charter

    A project charter is a formal short document that states a project exists and provides project managers with written authority to...

  • leadership

    Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of people to influence and guide followers or members of an organization, ...

  • transaction

    In computing, a transaction is a set of related tasks treated as a single action.

HRSoftware
  • employee engagement

    Employee engagement is the emotional and professional connection an employee feels toward their organization, colleagues and work.

  • talent pool

    A talent pool is a database of job candidates who have the potential to meet an organization's immediate and long-term needs.

  • diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

    Diversity, equity and inclusion is a term used to describe policies and programs that promote the representation and ...

Customer Experience
  • sales development representative (SDR)

    A sales development representative (SDR) is an individual who focuses on prospecting, moving and qualifying leads through the ...

  • service level indicator

    A service level indicator (SLI) is a metric that indicates what measure of performance a customer is receiving at a given time.

  • customer data platform (CDP)

    A customer data platform (CDP) is a type of software application that provides a unified platform of customer information that ...

Close