Home phone News

Technology totals time-honoured telephone traditions

Wednesday 14 December, 2011

By Kelvin Goodson

Old-fashioned habits like remembering people’s phone numbers are diminishing in the digital age.

Modern technology is consigning many time-honoured traditions around using the telephone to history.

According to new research from Mozy, there are over 10 landline-related habits that we don’t do anymore as a result of our increasing reliance on home computers.

The online back-up service found that technology has altered our lives to the extent that we no longer dial directory enquiries to find out a telephone number and, along the same lines, we no longer use a telephone directory.

Similarly, Mozy’s research also showed that, because the average Brit now has four computer-based devices at home, we don’t use address books or hard copies of the Yellow Pages anymore.

The research revealed that one in five of us are now never more than 10 feet from an internet-connected device, meaning we no longer need to ring the Speaking Clock to find out the time or book tickets for events over the phone.

The widespread use of mobile phones, and smartphones in particular, has seen the use of public telephones plummet, along with related habits such as carrying change to use in them and reversing charges when doing so.

The phone book, text and voicemail functions of these devices also mean we no longer bother to remember phone numbers, have a phone book or dial 1471 when we get home.

Despite this, research by telecom regulator Ofcom, published last month, found that UK households still spend an average of five hours a month using their home phone.

Photo by macinate