More families turn mobile

THE Yuile family are just one of many across Australia replacing the traditional landline for mobile phones.

Lauren Yuile, 15 years, is the youngest member of the family with a mobile phone which she thinks saves money.

THE Yuile family are just one of many across Australia replacing the traditional landline for mobile phones.

Recent studies show the number of Australian mobile users without landlines has increased from 8% in 2008 to 14% in 2010.

The rise in number could be explained by the financial benefits of just one phone payment, with the Warwick family claiming to save more than $100 a month.

However, it wasn't just the economic gain that prompted the Yuiles to make the change.

"Most of our landline calls were telemarketers; we didn't really see the point in paying for a line for them to call us on," Mark Yuile said.

Landlines are clearly becoming an endangered species with 86 people in every 100 owning a mobile, said an international telecommunications union.

In Warwick, Telstra sales assistant Elle Bates said the ditching of landlines was a growing trend.

"People seem to only keep the land line in use for emergencies," she said.

"Many customers are dropping to the basic landline plan and using mobiles for everything else."

Originally published as More families turn mobile