What Is a Modern Landline?

For decades, every home had one: a phone on the kitchen wall or the hallway table that anyone in the family could pick up. Then smartphones arrived, landlines got unplugged, and calling home turned into texting a device that lives in one person's pocket. Something quiet was lost.

The modern landline — sometimes called a modern telephone — brings it back, without the copper wires, the phone jack, or the monthly phone-company bill. It looks like the home phone you grew up with, but the intelligence lives in the software, not the socket.

In plain terms: a modern telephone is a home phone reinvented for the Wi-Fi era. Same familiar handset and dial tone, none of the old wiring, and a layer of smart call-screening the old phones never had.

How a modern landline actually works

A traditional landline needed a physical line running into your house. A modern landline needs only your home Wi-Fi. You plug it into an outlet, connect it to your network, and it works — no carrier contract, no phone jack, no SIM card.

Calls travel over the internet (the same technology behind most business phone systems today), which is why there's no separate phone bill. With Homie, calling between Homie phones is free, and an optional plan lets your approved circle reach you on any regular phone.

The real difference: it screens every call

This is what separates a modern landline from a cheap corded phone at the drugstore. A modern landline is built around an approved-contacts list. Only the people you've added can make it ring. Everyone else — telemarketers, robocalls, spam, wrong numbers, strangers — is blocked before the phone ever lights up.

For a child, that means grandma and their best friend can call, but no one else. For an older parent, it means scammers simply can't get through. Here's how Homie's call screening works.

Modern telephone vs. traditional landline

If you grew up with a copper landline, here's what actually changed — and what stayed exactly the same.

• The wiring is gone. A traditional landline needed a copper line and a wall jack. A modern telephone needs only Wi-Fi and a power outlet.
• The monthly bill is gone. No phone-company contract. With Homie, calling between Homie phones is free; an optional plan lets your approved circle reach you on any regular phone for $99/yr or $10/mo, cancel anytime.
• Call screening is new. A traditional landline rang for anyone who dialed the number. A modern landline only rings for people on your approved-contacts list.
• The feel is the same. A real handset you pick up and hang up, a dial tone, buttons you can actually press. It still works like the phone you remember.

Why families are switching back

• Less screen time. A phone that only makes calls can't doom-scroll, can't run apps, and can't open a browser. It does one thing beautifully.
• Real conversation. Kids call friends and family the way we used to — voice to voice.
• Peace of mind. No strangers, no spam, no surprises. 911 calling is included.
• No carrier bill, no phone jack. Just Wi-Fi and a one-time purchase.

What to look for in a modern telephone

Not every Wi-Fi phone is built the same. If you're shopping for a modern landline, these are the things that actually matter:

• Approved-contacts screening. The whole point. Make sure only people you add can make it ring.
• No apps, no browser, no screen to scroll. A modern telephone should do one thing — calls — beautifully.
• Simple setup. Plug into power, connect to Wi-Fi, done. No SIM card, no carrier, no phone jack.
• Remote management. Being able to add or remove contacts for a child or an older parent from your own phone is a quiet superpower.
• 911 included. 911 calling is included. Because it works over the internet, it needs power and Wi-Fi to place a call, and it can be affected by internet or power outages — so keep a mobile phone available for emergencies.

Is a modern landline right for your home?

If you have young kids who want to call friends but aren't ready for a smartphone, an aging parent tired of scam calls, or you simply miss the days when the whole family shared one phone — a modern landline like Homie is built for exactly that. It ships Fall 2026, costs $99 one time, and only ever rings for the people you love.

Modern landline FAQ

Is a modern landline the same as a modern telephone?
Yes. “Modern landline” and “modern telephone” describe the same thing: a home phone that works over Wi-Fi instead of copper wiring, with smart call screening built in.

Does a modern telephone need a phone jack or a landline?
No. It connects to your home Wi-Fi and plugs into a power outlet. There's no phone jack, no copper line, and no separate phone bill.

Does it work during a power or internet outage?
Because calls travel over the internet, a modern telephone needs power and Wi-Fi to place a call, and service can be affected by outages. 911 calling is included, but you should always keep a mobile phone available for emergencies.

How much does a modern landline cost?
Homie is $99 one time. Calling between Homie phones is free; an optional plan to reach any regular phone is $99/yr or $10/mo, cancel anytime.