landlines
Corded home phones
Landlines are telephone connections that run through physical wires—as opposed to cellular or satellite phones, which transmit wirelessly.
The term emerged only after mobile phones became common; before that, all phones were landlines and needed no distinguishing label.
Does anyone still have a landline?
The word often carries a whiff of obsolescence.
Bound or ribbed
- rotaryInvolving circular motion
- dial toneSound indicating phone readiness
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- handsetHeld telephone component
switchboard · exchange · copper wire · touch-tone · jack · wall-mounted · extension · busy signal
Circular-dial telephone
- phone boothEnclosed public telephone station
- collect callCall billed to recipient
- phone cordCoiled wire linking handset
- busy signalTelephonic rejection sound
waiting by the phone · phone book · wall-mounted · princess phone · avocado green · harvest gold · hanging up
Serious sudden danger
- power outageLoss of electrical supply
- 911Crisis response number
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- stormSevere atmospheric disturbance
hurricane · disaster · always-on · clear signal · dependable · uninterrupted · consistent · rural areas
Decreasing in strength
- outdatedNo longer in use
- replacedRemoved and substituted
- smartphoneHandheld connected computer
- cellularComposed of small units
VoIP · cord-cutting · discontinued · legacy · analog · phased out · vintage · antique
corded
Bound or ribbed
- rotaryInvolving circular motion
- dial toneSound indicating phone readiness
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
handset · switchboard · exchange · copper wire · touch-tone · jack · wall-mounted · extension · busy signal · operator
rotary phone
Circular-dial telephone
- phone boothEnclosed public telephone station
- collect callCall billed to recipient
- phone cordCoiled wire linking handset
busy signal · waiting by the phone · phone book · wall-mounted · princess phone · avocado green · harvest gold · hanging up
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- power outageLoss of electrical supply
- 911Crisis response number
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
storm · hurricane · disaster · always-on · clear signal · dependable · uninterrupted · consistent · rural areas · medical alert
declining
Decreasing in strength
- outdatedNo longer in use
- replacedRemoved and substituted
- smartphoneHandheld connected computer
cellular · VoIP · cord-cutting · discontinued · legacy · analog · phased out · vintage · antique · relic
- dying industriesprint newspapers, payphones, cassette tapes, VCRs, VHS tapes
- telephone thingsrotary phones, phone booths, handsets, receivers, switchboards
- telecomwireless, cellular, telecommunications, carriers, broadband
- telecommunicationscell phone, cellphone, signals, cellular network, antennas
- Retrovintage, retro, throwback, record players, old-school
- telegraphytelegraph, Morse code, telegraphy, telegraph key, telegraph line
landlinesmobile phones
Portable wireless communication devices
cell phones · cellphones · smartphones · mobiles · cordless phones
landlinescellular
Composed of small units
wireless · cellular phones · mobile networks · satellite phones · cellular networks
landlinessmartphones
Handheld touchscreen computers
mobile phones · cellular technology · digital communication · video calls
- landline phonesWired household communication devices