Choosing Phone Service in Houston: Landline, VoIP, Cable and Fiber Options (Updated)

Since the mid-2000s, Houston's phone market shifted from copper-only landlines to a mix of mobile, VoIP and digital voice delivered by cable and fiber. Major options include AT&T (the former Southwestern Bell), cable providers like Spectrum and Cox, VoIP firms such as Vonage, and legacy local carriers folded into CenturyLink/Lumen. Choose based on broadband availability, bundle pricing and emergency/backup needs.

Houston still has choices for phone service

Houston residents have more ways to make calls today than they did in 2006. Traditional copper landlines remain in some neighborhoods, but most households now rely on a mix of mobile service, VoIP (voice over IP) and digital phone lines delivered by cable or fiber. Providers compete on price, features and whether they bundle phone with internet and TV.

Major incumbent and national providers

H3: AT&T (former Southwestern Bell)
AT&T is the regional incumbent in much of the Houston area and continues to offer copper landlines where infrastructure remains, along with fiber (AT&T Fiber) and broadband bundles in parts of the city. Many customers who once had plain old telephone service now receive phone features over IP or as part of a broadband package from AT&T.

H3: Lumen / CenturyLink (EMBARQ legacy)
EMBARQ's operations were absorbed into what became CenturyLink, and the company now operates under CenturyLink or Lumen branding for business services in many markets. These providers still offer local phone services in some areas, often packaged with internet.

H3: Cable and broadband providers (Spectrum, Cox)
Time Warner Cable's consumer business is now part of Charter's Spectrum brand, and Spectrum provides digital voice alongside cable TV and internet. Cox Communications also offers voice service in parts of the Houston area. Cable providers typically bundle digital phone with internet and TV for a single monthly bill.

VoIP and internet-first providers

Vonage and other VoIP providers offer phone service that runs over your internet connection instead of dedicated copper lines. VoIP providers often include features like unlimited local and long-distance minutes, voicemail-to-email, and advanced call handling without traditional phone jacks. These services require a reliable broadband connection and a backup plan during power outages.

How to pick the right service

Start by listing what matters: a physical landline for security systems or medical alerts, unlimited calling, an international plan, or low-cost bundled internet and TV. Check broadband availability at your address (fiber, cable, DSL), compare total monthly cost including equipment fees, and confirm emergency and outage policies. For many Houston households, a combination of mobile service and a broadband-based VoIP line covers calling needs while keeping costs competitive.

Market trends to watch

Landline subscriptions have declined as mobile and VoIP use rose. Cable and fiber providers continue to expand voice-over-broadband options, and business customers increasingly move to hosted VoIP or SIP-based systems. If you rely on a phone for critical services, verify backup power and emergency calling capabilities when switching to non-traditional phone service.

1. Confirm whether Vonage was acquired and by which company (acquisition year and buyer).
2. Verify the specific corporate lineage and current consumer branding for EMBARQ -> CenturyLink -> Lumen in the Houston market.