A Guide to Phone Plans for College Students

Going off to college on your own might seem exciting since it is the first step into the adult world! You’re finally leaving the nest and learning to fly on your own. However, this excitement lasts only a few days, even a day or two, since you are suddenly burdened with chores and responsibilities. Almost instantly, you need to book your doctor appointments, budget your expenses when grocery shopping, and learn how much detergent and fabric softener to put in the machine.

In short, it is daunting being an adult and we understand. Thus, here we are with a guide to phone plans for college students. You might be thinking about why you need phone service in the first place. It’s true that a landline phone service might just be an added cost to your budget. However, it is more of an investment than it is an expense. There are some benefits that you can get with a landline only and not with your smartphone.

So, let’s take a look at why you might need a home phone service and what you need to look for specifically when you go to purchase a home phone plan. Lastly, we will be moving to and discussing some home phone plans that you can get from different internet service providers.

Why Do You Need A Home Phone As A Student?

There are plenty of reasons why a landline phone service could be useful to you as a student or even just generally. If we take a look at the statistics of home phone usage in the U.S., we will see that the number is steadily decreasing as more and more people cancel their telephone services and subscriptions. According to a survey done by Statista, the number of telephone subscriptions in 2000 was 192.51 million, which dropped to 149.65 million ten years later in 2010, and then to 103.05 million in 2020.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to follow suit, rather we are only discussing the facts here. The reasons why most people have stopped using the landline are pretty clear. Smartphones are the future, smartphones offer much more convenience than a landline, smartphones are used more than landlines, etc. These are all valid reasons, but now, let’s take a look at the reasons why we recommend you should get a landline phone service being a college student.

Cost

Contrary to what most people might assume, a home phone plan isn’t expensive. These plans are much cheaper than cell phone plans. The average cost of a cellphone plan in the U.S. is $113 whereas the average cost of a home phone plan is $42. You can see that there is quite a difference in the pricing. Naturally, a landline phone plan is more affordable and suitable for college students.

Moreover, there are some internet providers that offer attractive bundles and packages for internet, TV, and phone services, or internet and phone services. The good thing about these bundles is that they can be money-saving, or even come with plenty of benefits that you might not get otherwise. So, that makes for one reason why a phone plan is suitable for college students.

Safety

You can operate landline phones even when there is a power outage. So, if there was any such emergency and you urgently needed to contact someone, you don’t have to face signal issues on a landline, unlike with smartphones. Moreover, if you call 911 using your landline, the operator can immediately track your location and send help. While smartphones can also be tracked, it takes some time and poses a few difficulties.

Security

Home safety and security systems use telephone lines to connect to emergency centers. This is a much more reliable method of sending alarm signals and monitoring your home. While you have the option for wireless security devices, they can malfunction or face the same problems as cell phones do during bad weather and the like.

Quality

Since landline phones are not connected wirelessly, the call quality is impeccable. You get crystal clear audio and there are practically no delays or lag times. This is especially useful if you suffer from hearing loss and need to have a clear connection.

Simplicity

Sometimes, you’re just looking for a break from social media and in general, the internet. With so much exposure to the internet at all times, it can get very tiring. College students particularly have to access the internet even for their study material and it becomes very draining. The best way to recharge is by deactivating from the internet and spending that time on a hobby or with your friends.

Of course, there is one problem with that. If you shut off your phone and keep it away, how are you supposed to communicate with everyone? This is where the landline comes in and so, you can communicate with everyone and keep your phone off for the weekend or however long you want.

What To Look For In Home Phone Plans For Students?

Knowing about the benefits of a home phone service, you might be considering whether you should take the chance and get the service. As we said before, it is definitely an investment that helps you save in the long run and in many ways too. If you have made up your mind about subscribing or purchasing one, then you should know what to look for in the plan. Here are the factors that you need to focus on:

Reasonable Price

Naturally, this goes without saying, but you need to assess the costs of a phone plan against the costs of your cell phone data plan. While phone plans are much lower in price, you also need to be sure of what you are getting in or with the plan. You might want to get a bundle that includes internet and/or TV services too. Not only will this be highly convenient for you, but you will be getting everything in one go, and from one ISP, so, it is another plus point.

In addition to that, we recommend that you call the providers’ numbers and talk to representatives for an affordable and suitable plan fit for a college student. Oftentimes, you don’t see offers and special discounts online and you might find out about them from a customer service representative. A provider expert can also help you choose the right plan depending on your workload, usage levels, and more.

Unlimited Talk

It’s not like you’re traveling back to the 90s and you will be charged by the minute for your phone calls. So, make sure to check for any perks like unlimited talk time and text. No matter how long your phone calls, you won’t have to worry about being charged extra. You will be charged the same amount every month, at least that’s the case with unlimited talk time.

Discounts or Offers

Look for offers and discounts among different service providers to find the best plan. Depending on the provider, you might qualify for a discount as a college student. This is why you need to research and properly look around for the right provider before making a final decision.

The Best Home Phone Plans For Students

After reading all of that, now is the time to look at some of the home phone plans offered by different service providers and how much they cost. You get to decide from CenturyLink phones, Spectrum Voice, and more.

CenturyLink

CenturyLink is a service provider that is available in 16 states in the U.S. CenturyLink provides DSL and Fiber internet services along with phone services as well. CenturyLink has long since maintained a wonderful reputation for itself. It is a name that is trustworthy in a lot of households and even businesses.

You can check out the CenturyLink phone service plans and bundles down below.

CenturyLink Phone Plans