With POTS lines going away, many businesses have switched to modern alternatives. But what exactly is POTS or plain old traditional telephone service?
The short answer is it refers to the traditional telephone system before digital communication methods like VoIP services became widespread.
This guide further explains the meaning of POTS lines, how they work, and the best POTS line alternatives for businesses seeking to transition from analog to digital phones.
POTS Lines Explained
What Are POTS Lines?
Plain old telephone service (POTS) is a traditional landline service powered by the public switched telephone network (PSTN). It works by sending analog audio signals through copper wires. If you’ve seen an old-school corded phone with a rotary dial or physical keys, that’s a POTS line.
The POTS network has powered homes and businesses since 1876 before the cellular phone and the Internet became popular. If you search for the meaning of POTS lines on Wikipedia, you’ll see that POTS originally stood for Post Office Telephone Service. This is because a POTS line used to be operated by local post offices.
By 1988, the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Basic Rate Interface (I) revolutionized communication. This shift allowed simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Eventually, cellular phone services and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services followed.
Nevertheless, POTS lines remained a staple for communication but are currently in the process of being phased out as part of the copper switch off, with providers increasingly moving away from copper-based infrastructure towards more advanced digital technologies.
Check Out: Are POTS Lines Going Away?
How Does Plain Old Telephone Service Work
A POTS line sends voice signals through a complex network of copper wires, circuit switches, and local exchanges. The analog signals and circuit switch technology temporarily connect two telephones during a call.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
- Voice signals or sound waves are converted into electrical signals when you speak on the phone.
- Electrical signals travel through copper wires or, in more modern phone systems, fiber optic cables to your local exchange. If the call is long-distance or international, the signal passes through multiple exchanges or trunk lines connecting different regions or countries.
- The local exchange uses a switching system that identifies the number you dialed. It then establishes a dedicated circuit, connecting your phone with the recipient’s landline.
- When the electrical signal reaches the recipient’s phone, it is converted back into sound waves.
- The circuit remains open until one of the parties hangs up or ends the call.
Benefits of POTS Lines
POTS offers a few advantages over more advanced phone systems:
- Works during blackouts: POTS lines are low voltage and powered by the telephone exchange. They don’t rely on electricity, enabling you to use POTS phones during a power outage.
- Proven technology: Conventional wired phones have been operational for centuries, since the 1880s. It’s a trusted mode of communication with minimal downtime.
- Simple to use: POTS is straightforward to operate once you have a phone set up in your home or business. You don’t need to download or upgrade the software.
- Universally compatible: Old telephone service lines work with nearly every analog device, such as traditional phones, fax machines, and alarm systems.
- Independent of Internet or cellular networks: Plain old telephone service (pots) uses its own infrastructure and doesn’t rely on the Internet, cellular towers, or Wi-Fi to make calls.
- Private and dedicated connection: Each POTS call is connected via a dedicated circuit, making it immune to cyber threats.
The Relevance of POTS in the Digital Age
What is POTS’s relevance in telecommunication today? POTS’ might seem outdated, but its advantages still make it useful in certain cases:
Backup communication during emergencies
Plain old telephone service uses the power supply of the local exchange, unlike cellular or internet services. You don’t need to worry about being out of coverage or running out of battery. Businesses and primary institutions like banks and hospitals can rely on old POTS lines during emergencies, power outages, storms, or natural disasters.
Support for legacy systems
Some businesses still rely on legacy fax machines, security systems, alarms, and Point of Sale (POS) systems. These older systems and devices require wired landlines to work.
Communication in rural or underserved areas
Broadband or cellular coverage is usually spotty or nonexistent in rural or remote regions. In these areas, plain old telephone service lines remain the most reliable and accessible option. Moreover, using POTS is more practical than deploying advanced networks in areas with low population.
Suggested Reading: Traditional Landline Phone Service Without Internet
VoIP: The Best POTS Line Alternative for Business
POTS offers many advantages and relevant use cases today. However, modern businesses cannot rely solely on it. As communication technology advances, landline usage declines and will eventually be replaced by virtual and digital options. While POTS lines remain reliable in certain use cases, it would be a long shot to match the features, speed, scalability, and affordability of business VoIP options.
VoIP solutions offer several benefits:
- Low-cost international and long-distance calls
- Doesn’t require costly hardware and line rentals
- Advanced features such as voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, and virtual numbers
- Integration with productivity tools like electronic health record systems
- Easy to add and remove phone lines
- Make and receive calls anywhere with an internet connection
- Unifies voice, video, messaging, VoIP fax, and collaboration tools
Given these benefits, modern businesses should consider investing in VoIP services. Those still transitioning from analog to VoIP can keep plain old telephone service lines as backup communication or as part of a legacy system.
How do POTS lines differ from VoIP in a POTS network?
POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) are two distinct communication technologies within the POTS network. Traditional POTS lines use analog signals transmitted over copper wiring, providing a dedicated and reliable connection. In contrast, VoIP converts voice into digital data transmitted over the internet. While the POTS network operates independently of power and internet service, VoIP relies on a stable broadband connection and power source.
From a business perspective, VoIP offers a more cost-effective and feature-rich alternative to the POTS network. Traditional landlines require physical infrastructure, while VoIP allows for greater scalability with minimal hardware. Modern businesses also prefer VoIP for its advanced features like voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, and video conferencing. As technology advances, the POTS network is being phased out, and businesses are increasingly transitioning to VoIP due to its flexibility and efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions About POTS Lines
1. What are old telephones called?
Often referred to as rotary or touch-tone phones, old telephones relied on POTS lines to establish a connection between callers and recipients.
Rotary phones were the famous landlines with holed dials. To make a call, the caller must rotate the dial for each number and repeat the step for every digit.
On the other hand, touch-tone phones were early push-button phones that came after rotary dials. These old telephones have buttons or keys for dialing a number.
2. Can you still get a traditional landline?
Yes, but with the impending copper network switch-off, connecting a traditional landline to POTS (plain old telephone service) can pose several challenges.
Also, it depends on your country or region. Many of today’s telecom providers, like AT&T and Openreach, are phasing out POTS lines in favor of digital solutions.
Getting a traditional landline is still possible, but if you want a reliable and stable communication method for business, consider getting a VoIP or Fiber-based digital landline instead.
3. Are there any true landlines left?
Yes. However, true landlines are becoming less common. It’s critical to consider key aspects like your location, as there may no longer be any service provider that would service your area.
Traditional landlines will work as long as a provider can connect them to a POTS network. Regardless, copper-wired landlines tend to cost more as they become increasingly obsolete. As of this writing, AT&T charges $55 monthly for its traditional home phones, excluding other fees and taxes.
4. How long will landlines last?
How long landlines will last varies per location or country. In the United States, major landline service providers and network carriers are already transitioning away from POTS lines.
BT, United Kingdon’s leading telecom provider, plans to retire all traditional landlines in the country by 2027 and transition to digital VoIP.
Other countries will eventually follow suit, with many copper landline phone service providers aiming to transition entirely to digital networks.
With the copper network shutdown and POTS being replaced, businesses relying on traditional voice and fax communication through analog signals will be significantly affected.
Switching to digital solutions will ensure continued operations, enhance workflow efficiency, and improve business scalability. iFax offers cloud-based communication solutions for businesses seeking modern alternatives to POTS lines.
