[miki123211]

In a lot of places a "landline" is:

a) a phone using the ITU protocols, connecting to the router over ATM, or

b) a straight up SIP / VOIP phone which just happens to be operated by your ISP, but which could, in principle, work anywhere, as long as it was connected to the internet, or

c) a cell phone in a landline-like enclosure, perhaps with a carrier-side restriction that prevents its SIM card from working outside its intended local area.

[mrweasel]

That is pretty interesting, because I figured that maybe that would solve my issue of trying to get a cheap "landline". Sadly no. My ISP also doesn't want to do VOIP. They have the product, but doesn't sign up new customers.

[protocolture]

Voip is a classic loss maker for ISPs.

Right up there with email servers and DNS.

It increases their attack surface and support costs without any real bottom line benefit.

I suspect I will be adding IPTV to that list in 5 years too.