About to take the plunge and go full fibre on broadband, but it would probably be useful to keep a landline number for work/elderly relatives. Not anticipating making many outgoing calls so don't want to spend ++ on this.
Is there a third-party provider who would do incoming calls only?
We have used SIPGATE for many years. It was a metered only service with no standing charge. Also a local (ish) number. But having just had a look at their website, that's not longer a product they offer.
I'm sure there are lots of alternatives (Vonage used to advertise a lot for PSTN replacement), but whether anyone still does anything with no monthly charge, not sure.
Vonage isn't any cheaper than the broadband provider we're going with, unfortunately. I'd pay a small standing charge...
Does your new provider offer such a service perhaps? Back when I was with Virgin Media I couldn't get them not to provide it.
it would probably be useful to keep a landline number for work/elderly relatives.
Why? Do work and elderly relatives have difficulty dialling phone numbers with a 7 in them? I'm not seeing what you're gaining here.
A lot of deals seem to include a home phone so no need to pay for a separate service.
I'm not seeing what you're gaining here.
For on call, having a backup to mobiles would be handy. Work are not, of course, going to pay for this.
A lot of deals seem to include a home phone so no need to pay for a separate service.
Not the ones I've seen - most full fibre seem to not include VoIP until you're into full-house EE with all the bells & whistles.
I was looking at fibre deals also and was checking on money saving expert. You can ask to show deals that include a home phone but that does seem to limit the choices to Virgin, Sky & Vodafone (for me, at least).
Why? Do work and elderly relatives have difficulty dialling phone numbers with a 7 in them? I'm not seeing what you're gaining here.
I've just been through this with my father. He didn't want to call mobile from landline due to cost. He didn't realise you can have broadband and not pay land line. He hadn't then done the maths on a cheap SIM with unlimited calls...
Now we've worked through that he's got a mobile and a separate broadband connection.
He lives in a place with pull cords and all sorts of elderly support, YMMV if elderly relatives have this fitted to thier own home.