Cutting the cord… at the legislative level

Observation:  More and more consumers are living in a wireless-only household, with no land-line phone coming into the home.  According to a story in yesterday’s USA Today, many states have passed or are considering bills that relieve phone companies of the requirement to offer land-line service in all residential areas.  Click here to see the story.

Implications:   If not immediately, it looks as if—eventually—the home phone line will join the ranks of the payphone as historical artifacts.  Phone numbers have evolved from residential to personal items.  And why not?  I can do lots of things from my smartphone, including check sports score, do my banking, see if my couch sold on Craig’s List… and even ask my voice-controlled assistant to find a nearby restaurant for me. 

In comparison, my home phone is stupid.  And fired. 

Mike Anderson, for the Elm Street Economics consumer trends blog. A service of The Center for Sales Strategy, Inc.