Cable Vs. Landline Phones

Both cable and landline phone system offering long distance calling, caller identification, three-way calling and call waiting. However, most landline phone carriers charge for this while it is included in cable phone plans.

Landline phones offer uninterrupted service, as their power source is built into a phone line, while cable phones require an external modem that is connected to a power plug; this connection can be interrupted during power outages.

Cable phones use a high-speed modem that has a phone line output or an adapter that allows phones to be connected. Landline phones connect directly to a wall-mounted phone jack to get a signal.

Cable phone services allow cable television providers to offer phone services coupled in packages that include television and Internet services. This has driven service costs lower, forcing landline carriers to increase their offerings while decreasing prices.

A fax machine can be used over a cable phone. However, because the Voice over Internet Protocol system transmits data less efficiently than a landline, it may take several attempts for the fax to send properly.