The use of landlines has seen a steady decline over the years.
According to a study by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of US homes with only mobile phone connections has grown to more than 50%. On the other hand, the number of households with landline connections has continued to go down.
The point is, more people are choosing mobile phones over landline devices.
The reason for this trend is that consumers rate mobility as a factor in choosing a mobile connection. On the other hand, landline devices currently available in the market do not offer advanced features. However, there are important things to consider if you are planning to, or have already stopped using a landline service.
Research has shown that radiation from mobile phones may have dangerous side effects, ranging from cancer to male infertility. This is the reason why many countries and organizations continue to study possible side effects as well.
Let’s go over some of the health effects of mobile phones.
Negative health effects of mobile phone usage
In the 1990s, concerns were raised over the health effects of mobile phones. However, the mobile phone industry was able to turn the narrative in its favor. But according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the radiation produced by mobile phones is “possibly carcinogenic for humans.”
A report released by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) in November 2018 also found that “there is clear evidence that male rats exposed to high levels of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) like that used in 2G and 3G cell phones developed cancerous heart tumors.”
However, several studies have rejected the link between mobile phone use and cancer. Reliable answers on the subject are difficult to come by.
In 2009, the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) recommended that children’s access to mobile phones should be restricted. According to the authority, children can use mobile phones much more than adults because they have more time to do so. It added that this increases children’s exposure in the long-term.
“With children, we have reason to be especially careful, because there is not enough research on children’s mobile phone use. Unfortunately, it will not be easy to obtain this information in the future, either, because of ethical considerations, the use of children as research subjects must always be heavily justified,” said the STUK research director.
Just as it is with cancer, there is also a dispute over whether mobile phone use is among the reasons behind a drop in male fertility. Some studies have shown that mobile phone radiation can cause a drop in sperm count while others found no such connection.
The WHO has previously issued advice to the public, suggesting several measures that can be taken. “It is important that additional research is conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands‐free devices or texting,” WHO’s cancer research head said in a 2011 report.
Protecting your health may mean bringing landline devices back into your homes. While it is fair to acknowledge that mobile phones may offer features not available with landline devices, health should be a more important factor than simple convenience.
Current research shows that it is difficult to say for certain if the radiation from mobile phones can cause cancer. However, it is much better to take any precautions that may protect us from the possible ill effects.
The Solution
There is one solution that not only avoids the pitfalls linked with traditional landline devices but can also provide features that mobile phones do not usually have. One major solution is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). VOIP tools have gained prominence in the past few years because they are easy to use, both for households and businesses.
But more importantly, VOIP avoids the health dangers linked with mobile phone use and provides other advantages both for residential and commercial users.
VOIP services like AXVOICE offer benefits such as:
• Caller ID blocking.
• Three-way calling.
• Enhanced 911 support.
• Alternate caller ID.
• Incoming call waiting and call filtering.
• Redirecting unanswered calls to up to three different numbers.
• Real-time call logs.
• Enhanced voicemail.
• The option to have virtual contact numbers.
There are options to hold conference calls that landline services do not offer. Anonymous call blocking, blacklisting unwanted calls, and the option to direct all calls to voicemail, are among other advanced features. Another interesting aspect to look at is the softphone app that you can download on your laptop or tablet, and use it to make calls through the VOIP. Such calls do not cost any additional charges because they use your existing package. However, remember that using your phone’s carrier to make internet calls is no better off than the carrier calls themselves. But since you require a wireless calling solution when outdoor, you could rather use your VoIP subscription to make free calls over the internet than to use your carrier.
Shifting from a current phone number is usually not very convenient, but the service allows you to keep your current number, too. You may also choose a completely new number that originates from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. There are potential consequences to one’s health because of mobile phone use. Traditional landline devices simply do not offer features that are required for rapid communication in the modern world. VOIP is a useful method of communication that works to overcome the limitations of landline while providing advantages over mobile phones. They are also more affordable and can allow remote communication if required. VOIP can also help you cut down on your phone bills and save some serious money. But perhaps most importantly, unlike mobile phones, VOIP services do not pose a risk to your health, and ultimately, that should be your main concern.