A List of Landline Companies

While the standard landline phone is quickly disappearing from homes across the United States, there are still landline companies offering the service.  Even though many are opting for cellular service, having a terrestrial landline connection still has its advantages, especially for the frugal and those who make a lot of calls in their home.  Telecommunications companies offering landline phone service are very territorial, making selections in most area very limited.  The control of landline telephone, at least in the traditional sense, is typically dominated by one large company.  While these companies may have additional offerings, like cable telephone service or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocal), these companies offer the traditional landline phone service people are looking for.

There are currently three major Bell telephone companies operating in the United States.  Depending on your state of residency, you can get a telephone line through one of these landline companies.

AT&T Landline Services

This is still the largest of the landline companies, offering service in 23 of the major territories in the United States.  The AT&T company currently offers far more than landline service.  In addition to the standard landline telephone, they also offer cellular phone service and various Internet packages based on your type of service.  They currently offer very affordable rates, including long distance and international calling.

Verizon

While the name has become synonymous with the emerging cellular phone boom, Verizon also offers landline services in certain areas.  Currently, they are serving 10 major territorial areas, including the District of Columbia and New York.  Verizon is considered to be the second largest of the landline companies.  In addition to offering landline phone service, they also offer cellular phone plans, Internet connection options, and other types of data service.  Verizon, which was formally known as Bell Atlantic, was one of the original landlines companies, was originally one of the Regional Bell Operating Companies that were created when an anti-trust suit came against the American Telephone & Telegraph Company in the early 1980s.

Qwest

Officially known as the Qwest Communications International, Inc., is a large landline phone company that operates in 14 territories in the western United States.  Unlike the other two large landline companies, Qwest is not an offshoot of the AT&T Corp. antitrust break-up of the early 1980s, instead being founded in 1996.  In addition to offering landline phone service, Qwest also offers certain cellular phone service and digital television in certain areas.  While the company has been hit with a number of customer complaints and issues, they are still the major landline provider in the areas they operate in.

Finding Which of the Landlines Companies to Go Through

These are the three major landline phone companies operating in the United States, and if you are looking to get a landline phone in your home or business, then you will most likely be going through one of these companies.  To find out which is available in your area, you can long on to their website and enter your zip code.  Using this feature, which is available on each one of their websites, you can find out if that particular company is offering service in your area.  Following this establishment, setup is easy.

If you don't have reliable access to Internet, or simply are not comfortable order landline phone service online, you can easily find a store for one of these companies in your area.  If you have only Verizon stores in your community, then it is likely that your local landline provider is Verizon.  By going into the store, you can work with a service representative to get your landline set up. 

Here are some of the rough guidelines for which companies operate in which areas of the United States.