How long until using phones for voice communications is a complete thing of the past?

[BeholdOurButterStinketh]

I know there are now loads of ways of communicating, and that many of them are preferred by a lot of people for the fact that you can read and respond in your own time, rather than having a phone ringing, which is the equivalent of somebody suddenly yelling "Speak to me now! Speak to me now!"

However, it just so happens that most of these methods of communication are accessed on something that we refer to as a 'phone'.

We still have a landline, and the vast majority of calls we get on it are scams. Not even just genuine companies hoping to sell a legitimate product to us as a result of a cold call, but purely scammers. One main reason why we have kept it - my elderly MIL being able to call us - is now pretty much obsolete as even she has recently got the hang of mobiles and WhatsApp; so I think we'll probably junk the 'traditional' phone function soon and just keep the line for broadband. I know a great many people have done this long ago.

That said, it's occurred to me that, even on our mobiles, the majority of calls that come through are also from scammers. This seems to have increased markedly in the last couple of years. Nowadays, if our mobiles ring with an unfamiliar number, we ignore them and leave it to go to voicemail if genuine. I know people will say don't be dramatic, just answer it and tell them you're not interested; but I really cannot be faffed with doing this every time the phone rings - usually at a time when I'm in the middle of something - and also letting them know that the number is a live one that somebody answered at least once for them (and all of their scammy associates) to mark on their lists, so got to be worth trying again and again.

I know there are apps that can reduce the number of junk calls, but it's cat and mouse, as they just keep on spoofing yet another random number that the app hasn't yet caught up with and registered.

How long do people think it's going to be until phones don't routinely come with a voice call option included - or, more likely, until all phone numbers routinely have to be registered and confirmed on your phone white-list for them to even get through? And if that does happen, how can that stop the scammers from spoofing a number in your safe list (whether by hacking or pure luck when they auto-call tens of millions of numbers) and still getting you to answer, thinking it's your mum or friend calling - the way that a lot of scam emails spoof your own email address, as though you'd sent yourself an email, so you obviously can't block your own email address and report it as spam/scam?!

Just getting annoyed that the most basic function of a phone is now so frequently abused by criminals that it's getting pretty much spoiled as a concept - and that my instinct on hearing a phone ring now is a sigh that it will most probably be a scammer, when I can remember the old days when a ringing phone used to herald a wanted, or at least helpful, call!

How long before all communication is done without the use of a voice? We already communicate by text with people in the same house. Maybe face to face voice communication will become redundant too.

I can’t imagine sending a text message to someone in the same house! 😆😆. I also can’t imagine not answering a phone if it rings, or not using a phone to speak to friends, the bank, hospitals, work colleagues etc. we’ve still got a landline because we get very little mobile phone coverage at home, and our internet connection is not always very reliable. I would be lost without a phone!

Well your experience sounds very different to mine. I can't remember the last time I got a scam call but I use my phone for actual calls most days, whether that's business or talking to family (including two teenagers). We all use phones a lot at work it is far easier and more effective talking to people than batting messages back and forth.

the fact people text people in their own household shows a belief that they will get an “immediate” response - they know the other person is glued to their phone. People used to ring and speak because the ringing tone got attention and people interrupted what they were doing to attend to the call. Now, no such interruptions are needed because everyone is on their phone all the goddamn time!

Do you really text each other in the same house?

I’m in the process of getting a new phone number due to the amount of spam calls I get. I had 11 yesterday and I blocked each number one by one. They’re all from the same insurers but it’s relentless.

I also want a fresh start as I’ve had my number for SO long!

I’d like to think that people will be reducing text conversations and talking more on the phone or face to face. Simply because the current trend of constant dialogue / conversation on WhatsApp or Messenger cannot be very healthy. I think this is why sales of “dumb phones” have doubled year on year.

I only say this because I’m currently having some mental health worries. My counsellor has drawn my attention to my unhealthy “need” to being in constant text conversations with colleagues, friends and DH. I can spot this behaviour in other people as well. A dopamine hit (or whatever) whenever you get a notification.

My new found self awareness has shown me that I don’t need or want it. It affects my mental health so I’m dialling back.

But I understand everyone is different! and we don’t text each other when in the same house.

@BeholdOurButterStinketh "which is the equivalent of somebody suddenly yelling "Speak to me now! Speak to me now!"

I hate this mentality but I think we've already arrived at the point you describe tbh. Even work people don't want to make calls. It's problematic.

No, we don’t, but I know that there are people who do.

Hm, how long before no one gives a moments thought to people with sight or fine motor impairments?

Sounds like you're lucky with the scammers not bothering you!!

I agree that phones are a really useful tool, and are frequently by far the best or only practical method.

Maybe locking them down and 'pre-approving' numbers before they can contact you might become the norm for private individuals; but not much use for businesses and self-employed people who rely on calls from unknown numbers for getting work.

I don’t answer the phone. The only time I answer is if I’m scheduled to have a medical phone appointment or if it’s my children’s school, but I generally find most people don’t try to ring me anyway, contact is generally through WhatsApp.
I struggle with being put on the spot to talk, it’s a failing in me, but I just can’t do it. I find myself feeling responsible for filling in any pauses in conversation, my mind goes blank and I come away from calls feeling stupid and awkward, so I just don’t put myself through it anymore, for both mine and the callers sake.

And you can use a phone while doing other things.

This is a big part of it, though: people who struggle to/can't use other methods to communicate will be even more impacted by the consequences of scammers assuming that everybody pays for their phone and connection purely for their convenience in seeking to rob you.

I think I phrased the thread title in a bad, kneejerk way, and I would hate to see normal phone function not be an option for anybody - especially for those with disabilities who have no/few alternatives.

This is definitely something that should be addressed from on high - maybe with a 21st century equivalent of the TPS, only one that actually works this time. I don't know what the answer would be, though, now that anybody can auto-dial millions of people anywhere in the world, apparently from any presenting number, for virtually no cost.

WhatsApp is the failsafe way of getting hold of my teenagers at home.

Saves having to bellow up the stairs.

We use our phones within the house as an intercom - which as it can be done from our watches rather than even needing to fish the phone out of my pocket is pretty handy if I’m cooking or whatever.

I rarely answer calls from unknown numbers - if it’s important they can leave a voicemail or text.

I missed a really important call because I had put my phone on Do Not Disturb on at work recently and only my "favourites" could get through, increasingly medical appointments etc are by phone, as well as app now so I think it is just as important as ever to be contactable, also you get call for things like when your car is in for it's MOT, for late notice changes of appointments, often from unknown or withheld numbers, I would definitely not be in favour of having to pre-approve numbers. I put all our phone numbers on TPS as soon as we first got them, we are ex-directory and use blocking as needed and get very few scammers.

Another thing: I sometimes enter the ITV competitions where it's £2 to text an entry, so the only info they have of yours is your phone number.

It has occurred to me that, in the phenomenally unlikely event that I won, would they try to call me and find me ignoring their calls, as I'd probably assume it's just another scammer?! I suppose they'd leave a message, though, wouldn’t they?!

Is the TPS even worth anything at all now - even in theory?

Cold-calling companies based in the UK just used to ignore it many years ago; now the vast, vast majority of marketing calls come from overseas call centres, does UK law actually have any jurisdiction and any right to prosecute them? Let alone the scammers, who are highly unlikely to care about contravening UK telecommunications laws, when their whole raison d'etre is to rob you through deception?!

Texting people in the same house, unless it is the size of Versailles, is the laziest thing ever. And so rude; if one can't be arsed to move to speak to someone's face, it's a sad reflection on humanity.

Texting in the same house is easier than yelling up the stairs. That way my teens can't claim I didn't tell them something.

Yeah, my two are often plugged into noise cancelling headphones and don't always hear yelling up the stairs but I'd still go and find them to speak to rather than texting them, that would feel like a slippery slope into never speaking, in any case I usually want a reply there and then not to have to wait for a message. If for any reason I couldn't walk up the stairs I'd phone them rather than text, they are always phoning me. DS talks to his mates on the phone too.

Using the phone is a much more civilized and effective way of communicating throughout any house which isn’t small and open plan (not ‘Versailles’) than shouting to be sure.

Yes, our house is small so I’ll call up the stairs but if there’s no reply I just go up, I don’t like shouting. I might use my phone to call someone instead if I am marooned under a cat on the sofa though.

I don't think communication by using your voice to talk will ever stop being supported, it's the basic way that humans interact with each other. But as a PP said up thread, teens and gen Z are now so linked to their phones, and used to texting, they don't have experience of talking to anyone on the phone and want to avoid it. Will our future work places be a hive of instant messaging and email only? Hmmm maybe when the last millennial dies out, voice communication WILL be consigned to history!

I work in sales so you would think I'm on the phone a lot. Not so. Most business is conducted on zoom or face to face. WhatsApp calls are a close third. I did WA my partner yesterday from the front room when he was in his office across the hall when the doorbell went and I was on a call, Zoom