Oklahomans Switching Landlines for Cell Phones

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahomans have a growing number of options when it comes to wireless communication, quickly making landlines a thing of the past.

Many desire instant communication, whether it be on laptops or phones.

In Whitney Fleming's household, cell phones are the preferred method of communication.

"We tend to use those because they are limited plans and we hardly ever find ourselves using our landline," Fleming said. "Occasionally, if my cell phone is out of batteries, I will use the landline."

Oklahomans are hanging up their landlines and going cell-only.

A recent study done by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention showed one in four Oklahoma households are wireless.

Read the full report by the CDC.

States like California and New York reported only one in 10 were wireless.

"With a landline, you don't have unlimited long distance and things like that," Brian Morris of Cricket Wireless said. "The convenience of the cell phone is just so much greater."

The array of cell phone service providers consumers have to choose from could be a motivating factor for switching to wireless.

"There's pretty much places for cell phone service on every corner almost," Morris said. "It's just kind of booming in this industry right now."

In the Fleming household, the landline is on standby for now.

"We really do struggle with why do we have this, because we never use it," Fleming said.

According to the study, Oklahoma tied with Utah for the most cell phone only households. Nebraska, Arkansas, Idaho, and Iowa were not far behind.

The states with the least wireless households are Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, and South Dakota.