Last century’s landlines (POTS) were an incredible advancement. They connected our country and thrust the nation forward to an age of prosperity. For decades, the FCC oversaw a network that proved worthy, but recently has deregulated pricing on this technology and allowed POTS Providers to decommission their copper assets as long as they can be replaced with new technology. It’s been an incredible legacy, but like all legacies in technology, at some point, it gets passed by something with more advanced capabilities.
Fiber, coax, fixed wireless, and cellular connections, arguably provide a better and more efficient medium for delivering voice and UC services. Old infrastructure that supported POTS now requires expensive maintenance, which often just isn’t worth the investment. The FCC is allowing Providers to move forward with this pricing deregulation, which means many legacy networks will be phased out and require finding an alternative option or paying higher rates for these legacy services when there could be better alternatives. Systems that were “hardwired” ― alarms, ATMs, elevators, voice, fax, POS terminals ― will need to be modernized, without sacrificing important concerns like compliance, safety, or security, plus, they need to be as consistent and reliable as the legacy POTS solutions they’re replacing.
Contemplating a business move away from POTS (plain old telephone service)? You're not alone. Many businesses are making the switch to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and reaping the benefits of this modern telephony solution. Let's take a look at some of the reasons why POTS are being phased out.
Increased Costs
POTS are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain, while VoIP services continue to become more affordable. With the advent of high-speed internet access, businesses can take advantage of VoIP's many features without having to make a major investment in new hardware.
Reduced Reliability
POTS lines are also becoming less reliable, as copper wire infrastructure ages and is susceptible to damage from severe weather conditions. VoIP services, on the other hand, route calls over the internet, which is much less likely to be affected by adverse weather conditions.
Lack of Features
POTS lines offer few features beyond voice calling, while VoIP services come packed with a host of features that can improve productivity and customer service, such as call forwarding, caller ID, voicemail, and more. Additionally, many VoIP providers offer mobile apps that give users the ability to make and receive calls on their business line from their personal cell phone - something that's not possible with POTS.
POTS have been around for decades, but their time is coming to an end. Businesses are increasingly switching to VoIP solutions for their telephony needs due to the increased costs and decreased reliability of POTS lines. Additionally, VoIP provides a host of features that POTS simply can't compete with. So if you're still relying on a POTS line for your business phone service, it may be time to consider making the switch to VoIP.
Don’t be the organization that didn’t see it coming. Landline Retirement/POTS Discontinuance is Happening Now! Copper has been the backbone of landline systems, and many organizations, even after years of warning, will not be prepared. However, you’re in good company, millions of organizations are making the transition, potentially to alternatives that offer a huge range of capability advancements, and potential savings. I want to help you be a success story. Let’s discuss your requirements, the options available, and how to make it happen. I’m ready to be your expert, your advocate, and your partner to help move your organization forward. Let’s get started, all it takes is a 15-minute chat.