[November 20, 2009] Wireless America [Culpeper Star-Exponent, Va.] Tweet (Culpeper Star-Exponent (VA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 20--New census figures confirm the widespread perception that telephone landlines are becoming a thing of the past in many American households. That's because the number of homes using cell phones nearly doubled in the first half of the decade -- from 36 percent to 71 percent between 1998 and 2005. Cell phone use jumped even more among households aged 29 or younger -- from 35 percent in 1998 to 81 percent in 2005, the U.S. Census reported Thursday. Concurrently, the number of landlines decreased among these younger households -- from 93 percent to 71 percent. Overall, landline ownership fell from 96 to 91 percent from 1998 to 2005. However, 98 percent of households aged 65 and older still had landlines in 2005. In May, the Associated Press reported that for the first time the number of U.S. households opting for only cell phones had surpassed those with just traditional landlines. Twenty percent of households had only cell phones in the last half of 2008, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That compares with 17 percent with landlines but no cells. "The trends certainly are accurate that wireless activity is increasing and landline activity is decreasing," said Harry Mitchell, a director of media relations with Verizon, the nation's largest wireless provider. A recent report from the Federal Communications Commission, in fact, showed that there were 6.2 million cell phone users in Virginia in June 2008 compared to 4.5 million with landlines. Mitchell said that "crossover" in Virginia happened several years ago. The mobility associated with cell phones is surely driving increased usage, he said, as, "Folks are deciding to let the wireless phone be their phone." Mitchell added that landlines continue to be a good value and that many families consider them to be more dependable. To meet the changing face of communication, companies like Verizon are offering more bundled services -- that is, combinations of Internet, TV, landline service and cell service. To see more of the Culpeper Star-Exponent or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.starexponent.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Culpeper Star-Exponent, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]