Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Second Phone Line Usage Jumps

Three years ago only eight percent of Southwestern Bell customers said they purchased an additional phone line because of Internet or on-line services.

Today, that number has more than tripled, jumping to 26 percent, based on a new study by Southwestern Bell. But company experts say the most dramatic growth in this area is still to come.

Currently, almost 15 percent, or one in seven American households are online, according to The Yankee Group, an independent firm specializing in telecommunications research. But industry specialists predict that by the year 2000, that number will climb to nearly 30 percent, creating a considerable growth potential for the sale of additional phone lines. Southwestern Bell is already beginning to see some of that growth.

"Traditionally, teenagers have been the biggest reason for the purchase of an additional phone line, and that trend probably will continue," said Mike Gilliam, regional president, Southwestern Bell-Arkansas.

"But the skyrocketing popularity of the Internet, on-line services and home computers, coupled with campaigns to increase public awareness of the value of a multiple-line home, has been the driving force behind the sale of additional phone lines in the last three yearsm," Gilliam said.

Southwestern Bell is on target for another record year with the growth rate for additional phone line sales already at 22 percent as of November. This compares to a 17 percent growth rate in 1995, an 11 percent growth rate in 1994 and a 7 to 10 percent growth rate in the three previous years.

Additional phone line sales for the year will most likely increase during and shortly after the holidays. With home computer sales expected to increase by 20 percent this Christmas season, many people will be considering the benefits of an additional line once they get their new computers up and running and try out the 'net or other on-line services.

"Anyone who has surfed the 'net knows that there is no such thing as logging on for only a few minutes," Gilliam said. "With the vast amount of information available, you can easily spend two or three hours browsing, and that means two or three hours that the phone line is tied up. Many families are finding an additional phone line just makes life easier."

In the new Southwestern Bell study, 42 percent of the company's customers said they bought an additional phone line because of a teen in the home, compared to 56 percent three years ago. Meanwhile, 26 percent made the purchase because of the Internet or on-line service, compared to only eight percent in 1993.

Other reasons for purchasing an additional phone line included telecommuting and households with multiple adults, extended families or roommates.

Currently, 14 percent of Southwestern Bell residential customers in its five-state region have an additional phone line.