Cell phones no longer are just for while you’re out; they are for while you’re in, too.

Land-bound phone lines are becoming a thing of the past, especially for those who change addresses frequently, such as college students living off-campus.

Junior psychology major John Venditti is one of the few who still has both a house phone and a cell phone.

“I only use the home phone for Internet purposes,” he said. “I use my cell phone for making calls.”

In addition to a cell phone, having a house phone usually costs too much for most college students.

“I just use a cell phone. It is too expensive to have both,” said junior journalism major Nick Utech.

Utech said he uses a cable modem instead of a landline for Internet access.

Having a cell phone that replaces a landline isn’t just about the cost. Some also find it more convenient.

“I live at home and would have to get my own line if I wanted one,” saidBeth Stump, a junior special education major. “So I only have a cell. But I am never home and it is a lot easier to get ahold of me on my cell.”

Because of the growing trend, companies like Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless are quickly growing. According to the Verizon Wireless 2002 annual report, the company had a 10.7 percent growth in just one year.

At the same time, phones with cords are becoming antiques. SBC Communications, which owns Cingular Wireless, made the decision to stop operating its payphones in North America in 2001 because of a dramatic downturn of usage as cellular phones became more popular, according to the report.

Cell phones also are convenient because of the perks that accompany them.

“I can store my numbers in my phone, and I have only one voicemail to check,” Venditti said.

Utech also finds only one phone line easier to deal with.

“All you have to do is say ‘call me,’” Utech said. “With home phones, you have to worry about being there to get the call.”