The pace of technological advancement has been rapid by most any measure, no matter what segment of the technology market you look at. From mobile to home goods to the Internet of Things and beyond, technology is a growth sector. Yet even as many old technologies are supplanted by their newer counterparts, some technologies remain valid. The idea of Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) is still up and running, even as mobile devices and cloud-based systems look to replace this technology.
Why is POTS Still Valuable?
Despite recent moves to eliminate POTS in certain areas—both Verizon and AT&T are planning to abandon POTS by 2020 in favor of an IP-only broadband operation—there’s still quite a bit to say about POTS that makes it worth keeping.
It’s its own backup. What most users of cloud-based phone systems or other internet protocol (IP) operations may not know is that, in the event of a power outage, IP systems go with the power. IP systems require electrical power to maintain. POTS, meanwhile, derives its power from the same line the connection itself operates on. In a power outage, POTS still runs, while IP systems go dark.
It’s everywhere. While the allure of cable systems, fiber optic systems, and even fixed wireless is hard to pass up, as of January 2017, 2.1 million people in the United States still used dial-up internet service from AOL. Many advanced connectivity systems can’t be had just anywhere, but most places big enough to have electricity likely still have POTS.
It’s time-tested. POTS service has been available for the better part of a century in many places, and the fact that it continues to be used even now demonstrates its overall effectiveness. With two major multinational providers only now planning to drop the service, it’s clear just how widespread and widely-used it is.
It’s the basis of the fax machine. Cloud-based faxing systems are available, yes, but for many businesses—especially those in places where the improved internet connectivity methods haven’t reached—traditional fax is still king. Several businesses commonly prefer fax machines for its ability to keep hard copies of messages all located in one place.
What Should I Know about Selling POTS?
For those who want to keep POTS in play, get in touch with us at eXemplify. As a Granite partner, we help you keep your customers’ communications technology running at its peak, especially if you’re selling POTS.
To learn more about how Granite provides leading communications technology solutions, check out its booth (#417) and presence at ITEXPO, February 13-18 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Granite will be participating in the SD-WAN expo and panel.