Telephone? Who uses that ancient relic in this day and age?
You’d probably hear this a lot from smartphone-wielding youngsters who have no idea how folks communicated before the advent of the almighty screen. And while in many ways, the smartphone did indeed eclipse its predecessor as the years went by, the telephone remains a valuable and relevant tool for communication, be it for business or personal use.
Aside from being the titular star of a fabulous Lady Gaga and Beyonce collaboration, here are seven reasons why the telephone will always remain relevant in an ever-evolving communication landscape.
The Human Connection
The telephone connects people from different locations and allows them to talk and listen to each other’s voices. While the same can be said of texting, there is no substitute for the assurance of hearing a human voice on the line. A screenful of text could never replace the humanness of hearing someone say hello.
We can also better understand what is being said by listening to the emotional cues offered by the human voice over the telephone, something that text, no matter how expressive, could never convey.
Best for Business
Recent research reveals that while non-business use of telephones are declining due to the takeover of social media, it is still your business’ best bet for communicating with your target market – an overwhelming number of businesses still rate the telephone as the best way to get in touch with their clients.
This is reflected in the way businesses advertise, and online ad giants recognize the importance of the telephone in connecting clients to businesses. As a very concrete example, businesses can track calls from Google ads, giving important cues for marketing and tweaking strategy to maximize return on ad spend.
The Cheaper Option to Connect
While non-landline calls fulfill the same purpose, telephone calls are still the less expensive option for local and long distance calls.
This is especially true for businesses with multiple locations spanning long distances through least cost routing. Suppose your business has its headquarters in the USA and you need to contact your UK location, your office phone system can route it through the UK location and bypass the need for international dialling, and bill it as a local call.
With that being said, the telephone is also the most convenient tool for businesses with multiple locations to rapidly connect colleagues wherever they may be in the world.
Stability and Security
The stationary nature of the telephone has been derided as a liability when the advent of mobile phones came around. However, it is this stationary nature that gives telephones an advantage over mobile phones in terms of stability and security.
Mobile phones are portable, and can be lost or stolen. Important communications may be compromised and crucial contacts may be lost if a mobile phone gets misplaced, or gets into the wrong hands. It would be wise to not commit anything important to the mercy of a device that can be easily picked out of one’s pocket. In addition, landline is also more difficult to hack than a mobile phone.
Signal-wise, mobile phones will only work where there is ample signal coverage – a telephone with a landline connection in a rural area with poor mobile signal would have no reception issues, facilitating crystal-clear communication between you and your loved ones, or that million-dollar client.
In conclusion, as technology advances with the passage of time, communication also improves, often by leaps and bounds. But no matter how much the telecommunications landscape changes, there is no substitute for the human connection, security, stability, and accessibility of the telephone.
Which of these four reasons are most relevant to your experience as a telephone user? Share it with us in the comments!
