Out in the woods, the home and the nearest DSL hub have backup power. Cellular is always a crap shoot.

And iPads can make phone calls via Wi-Fi, FaceTime and emergency calls.

I have yet to use a landline phone, even from the thrift store, even though the phone service is bundled with DSL internet at a lower cost than DSL internet alone.

The blazing fast internet revolution has not reached the woods, though I have never worried about making an emergency call via iPhone or iPad. CB talkies are on hand, though I keep batteries out of them to avoid corrosion from disuse over time (in years)