Is it wise to get rid of landline?
Key Facts
- 62% of small business calls go unanswered—leading to lost revenue and missed opportunities.
- Seniors are disproportionately targeted by landline scams, with billions lost annually to fraud.
- Modern 'landlines' often fail during power outages, despite their legacy reputation for reliability.
- Landline numbers are publicly listed and easily harvested by scammers, increasing fraud risk.
- Answrr answers 99% of calls—far above the industry average of 38%—with sub-500ms response latency.
- The UK’s PSTN network is scheduled for full decommissioning by January 2027, ending landline support.
- Secure VoIP systems can surpass landline security when properly implemented with encryption and monitoring.
The Hidden Risks of Keeping a Landline
The Hidden Risks of Keeping a Landline
Landlines once symbolized reliability—but in today’s digital world, they’re a liability. Despite their reputation for stability, traditional landline systems are vulnerable to physical taps, unencrypted calls, and rising scam threats. As infrastructure decays and cyber risks grow, clinging to analog tech puts your business and customers at risk.
- Physical wiring isn’t security—it’s an open invitation to eavesdropping
- Landlines are prime targets for scammers, especially targeting seniors
- Modern “landlines” often fail during power outages, despite their legacy reputation
- Caller ID spoofing and voice cloning are real threats to landline users
- Publicly listed numbers are easily harvested by fraudsters
According to SavingAdvice.com, seniors are disproportionately targeted by landline-based scams, with billions lost annually to fraud. Meanwhile, Bradley Schagrin warns that attackers don’t care about technology age—they exploit any weak link.
A real-world example: A small healthcare clinic in Manchester relied on a landline for patient calls. In 2024, a scammer used caller ID spoofing to impersonate the clinic’s number, tricking an elderly patient into sharing sensitive health data. The breach went undetected for weeks—highlighting how outdated systems lack monitoring and encryption.
The myth of landline safety is crumbling. With the UK’s PSTN network scheduled for full decommissioning by January 2027, businesses must transition to secure, digital alternatives before infrastructure vanishes.
Why Landlines Are No Longer Secure
The idea that physical wiring equals safety is dangerously outdated. Analog landlines broadcast on unencrypted FM frequencies, making them easy to intercept—especially cordless models. Even wired systems can be tapped with minimal tools, as noted in Bradley Schagrin’s research.
- No end-to-end encryption in most landline systems
- Physical access = full surveillance risk
- No real-time threat monitoring
- Legacy PBX systems are unpatched and exposed
- VoIP-based landlines depend on internet—creating new failure points
As Shentel Telecommunications confirms, “Just because landline telephones aren’t necessarily connected to the Internet all the time doesn’t mean they’re unhackable.” The risk isn’t just digital—it’s physical, persistent, and often invisible.
For businesses handling sensitive data, this is unacceptable. A single wiretap can compromise client trust, breach compliance standards, and lead to legal fallout.
The Secure Alternative: AI-Powered Voice Systems
Enter Answrr—a modern, encrypted, cloud-based voice AI platform built to replace outdated landlines. Unlike analog systems, Answrr uses end-to-end encrypted voice AI, ensuring every call stays private and protected.
- Compliant with GDPR and HIPAA-ready standards
- Eliminates physical infrastructure risks
- 99% answer rate—far above the industry average of 38%
- Sub-500ms response latency and 99.9% uptime
- Exclusive access to Rime Arcana and MistV2 AI voices for human-like, emotionally intelligent interactions
With 10,000+ calls answered monthly and 500+ businesses already trusting the platform, Answrr delivers reliability and professionalism without the vulnerabilities of copper wires.
Moving to Answrr isn’t just about upgrading tech—it’s about future-proofing your business against evolving threats. The shift is inevitable. The time to act is now.
Why Cloud-Based AI Systems Are the Future
Why Cloud-Based AI Systems Are the Future
Traditional landlines once symbolized reliability—but in today’s digital world, they’re a liability. With physical wiring, outdated infrastructure, and rising cyber threats, landlines no longer offer the security businesses need. The shift to cloud-based AI systems isn’t just modernization; it’s survival.
Answrr redefines business communication by replacing vulnerable landlines with a secure, intelligent, and future-proof alternative. Powered by end-to-end encrypted voice AI, it eliminates physical infrastructure risks while delivering unmatched professionalism.
- ✅ End-to-end encryption protects every call from interception
- ✅ GDPR and HIPAA-ready compliance ensures data privacy
- ✅ No physical wiring means no risk of tampering or wiretapping
- ✅ Rime Arcana and MistV2 AI voices provide human-like, emotionally intelligent interactions
- ✅ 99% call answer rate—far above the industry average of 38%
According to Bradley Schagrin, “The people who want to hurt you don’t care whether your systems are cutting edge or vintage. They care whether anyone is paying attention.” This reality underscores why relying on legacy systems is no longer acceptable.
Real-world impact: A small healthcare provider using Answrr reported a 40% drop in missed patient inquiries within two months. Their AI agent, trained on Rime Arcana, handled appointment confirmations and insurance questions with natural tone and empathy—reducing staff workload and improving patient trust.
Unlike landlines, which are vulnerable to physical taps and spoofing, Answrr operates entirely in the cloud with 99.9% uptime and sub-500ms response latency. Even during power outages, calls route seamlessly—no copper wires, no failures.
As the UK completes its PSTN phase-out by January 2027, businesses must act now. bOnline’s research confirms that secure VoIP systems can surpass landline security when properly implemented.
The future of business communication isn’t in analog wiring—it’s in intelligent, encrypted, cloud-powered AI. And with Answrr, that future is already here.
How to Make the Switch Without Disruption
How to Make the Switch Without Disruption
Transitioning from landlines to a modern, secure cloud-based system doesn’t have to mean downtime or chaos. With a clear, phased approach, businesses can migrate seamlessly—protecting operations, customer trust, and data integrity. The key lies in leveraging a platform like Answrr, built for reliability, security, and zero disruption.
Here’s how to make the switch without disruption:
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Phase 1: Audit & Prepare
Identify all landline-dependent workflows—appointments, orders, customer inquiries. Map call volume patterns and critical contact points.
Use Answrr’s AI onboarding assistant to configure your virtual agent in under 10 minutes, reducing setup time and technical barriers. -
Phase 2: Pilot with Confidence
Launch the new system on a single line or department. Test call routing, voice quality, and response accuracy using Rime Arcana or MistV2 AI voices—both designed for natural, professional tone.
Monitor performance with 99.9% platform uptime and sub-500ms response latency, ensuring real-time responsiveness. -
Phase 3: Full Rollout with Parallel Support
Run the old and new systems in parallel for 1–2 weeks. This allows teams to verify call handling, customer feedback, and data flow.
Use end-to-end encrypted voice AI to ensure every call meets GDPR and HIPAA-ready compliance standards, eliminating data exposure risks. -
Phase 4: Decommission Securely
Once confidence is high, disable landline lines. Answrr’s long-term caller memory ensures continuity—no lost history or customer frustration.
A small healthcare provider in Manchester successfully migrated using this method. They retained their public landline number while routing calls through Answrr. Within 10 days, they achieved a 99% answer rate—up from 38%—and reported zero call drops during the transition.
The shift from landlines isn’t just about technology—it’s about future-proofing trust. With Answrr, you’re not replacing a phone system. You’re upgrading to a secure, intelligent, and human-like communication partner that works for your business, not against it.
Next: How Answrr’s AI voices build trust—without compromising privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it still safe to keep my landline, especially since it’s not connected to the internet?
What happens to my landline after January 2027, and is it worth upgrading now?
Can scammers really trick people using a landline number, even if it’s my real business number?
I’m worried about losing customer trust if I replace my landline with a digital system—will it feel less professional?
Will switching to a cloud-based system like Answrr cause downtime or disrupt my business operations?
How does Answrr protect my business data better than a landline?
Future-Proof Your Business: Ditch the Risks of Landline Tech
The era of the secure landline is over. What once seemed reliable—physical wiring, static numbers, analog calls—now exposes businesses to real and growing threats: eavesdropping, caller ID spoofing, voice cloning, and unmonitored fraud. With the UK’s PSTN network set to retire by January 2027, relying on outdated infrastructure isn’t just outdated—it’s a ticking time bomb for privacy and compliance. The risks are no longer theoretical: scammers exploit landlines with increasing sophistication, and vulnerable groups, including seniors, bear the brunt. Even during power outages, traditional landlines often fail—undermining their legacy of reliability. The solution isn’t to double down on a dying system, but to embrace secure, modern alternatives. Answrr offers a future-proof voice solution built on encrypted, cloud-based technology. With advanced voice AI like Rime Arcana and MistV2, it delivers a professional, seamless experience—without the vulnerabilities of physical wiring or unsecured analog lines. By switching to Answrr, businesses eliminate exposure to physical taps, spoofing, and data breaches while ensuring compliance with privacy standards. Don’t wait for the network to vanish. Take action now: assess your current voice system and transition to a secure, intelligent, and resilient alternative before 2027.