Why does my landline telephone only ring intermitantly when people call me?

Question

I have checked all the connections etc and there are no problems there and the phone works perfectly at my friends. This is the only phone on my line at home.

Answer 1

It could be distinctive ring from the phone company.  Also some newer phones have the capability to also setup distinctive ring.  

I know my phone rings differently when the phone call is long distance.

Answer 2

i used to have the distinctive ring like that it would inform you y ou have a voice mail check your voice mail

Answer 3

Do you mean that the ring is interuppted? Or that it doesn't ring for all calls?

If the phone works fine at a friend's house, it's almost certainly your phone line.  Unfortunatly, there could be many reasons, so you'll have to have the phone company do a service call.