What Is a POTS Line? How Is It Different From VoIP?

Remember landlines? Yes, those ancient things are still around. Though mobile phones are the norm, landlines or Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) are still used for personal and business communication.



In this post, we’ll take a closer look at POTS lines. We’ll go over the history of the traditional landline, how it works, and why its popularity is dwindling. 



We’ll also touch on the most common POTS alternative and help you decide whether to move to Voice Over Internet Protocol ( VoIP ).



What Is a POTS Line?



Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) is an analog-based phone line implemented over twisted-pair copper wires. Its service is provided directly by the local telephone company.









Its technology dates back to the late 1800s. POTS lines use a low-energy power source to carry the sound and signal for the ringer. This powers classic telephones that don’t need batteries or charging.



At its peak in the 90s, POTS had hundreds of millions of subscribers in the United States. Most millennials grew up with a POTS line at home.



POTS is sometimes called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). While they are similar, the difference is that POTS refers to the  technology  around the phone service, and PSTN refers to the public calling  network. 



Though POTS lines still exist, modern methods are replacing them. The most popular is the  VoIP phone system , as it is cost-effective.