No, VoIP won't work for 911. VoIP is about $2.50 a month, probably less if you pre-pay a year. It has been a little while since I researched it.

At this point, I use my cell phone for most calls. I had to change my plan recently because I also pay for my daughter's phone while she's in college--she was getting a lot of text messages from friends, over the limit in our plan. But her phone is a real family life line, and is the only phone she has (she has roommates, they all use cellular phones, no house phone). For the two of us, with Sprint, 750 shared minutes, unlimited text, various other little things, it is $100 a month, minus a 15% discount I get through work. So each phone averages out to $43 or so a month. If I dropped the house phone, I'd save $21 a month.

The cell phone plan includes a set number of daytime weekday hours (if I go over, I pay a per-minute fee). I have free evenings and weekends. If I only use the house phone for unlimited incoming calls and a few outgoing, it is $5 a month, and for access to 911, it isn't a bad deal.

If you look at other plans, like T-Mobile, they have a home hot-spot plan that includes phones and Internet, I think. You'd have to see what your area has available.

SRS