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Today's Times lends some numbers to a trend we were well aware of: The disappearing of the pay phone.
It is no secret that pay phones aren't what they used to be. After hitting a peak in usage in the mid-90s, the pay phone has hit on hard times in the era of the mobile phone. How bad? Well, in 2000 there were more than 2 million pay phones in the US. In 2004 there were less than 1.3 million. Closer to home, in 2002 there were 165,000 pay phones in New York State. By 2004 that number had fallen to 137,000. And the numbers are not going back up.
The problem is that pay phones are not cheap to maintain, they need to make about $75 a month to break even. While it would be nice to keep all of them around for the convenience of those without cell phones (or those whose phones are broken or uncharged...) it just isn't financially feasible. And so, for most of the "location agents," like restaurant and grocery store owners who split the costs and profits of pay phones with the phone companies, it makes more sense now to install an ATM than a pay phone.
Sigh. How weird is it that pay phones will someday be an anachronism for our kids?
Photograph by Quarlo.
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Payphone sites need to be replaced with 21st century phone booths: kiosks where people can talk on their mobile phones free from ambient noise on the street or in locations like restaurants that will require patrons to retire to if they want to converse on their phones. Either print or LCD video ads could support the cost of these installations, in addition to the fact that they would certainly improve the quality of life. Just an idea.
Hmmm, Didn't Mayor Guiliani say "Use a Pay phone for 911" instead of a Call Box??
I remember reading in the NYtimes,last year or so, a story about the city of ny being upset with a phone company for installing pay phone booths around Manhattan needlessly. Appearently, the phones were not needed, and frequently didn't even work. The revenue the phone company generated thru advertising on them was quite lucrative though, and as such, they were installing big two and three phone booths wherever they could. If I recall correctly, the practice was put to a halt by the city.
I could not find that article, but did find some relevant ones:
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70910FA3F5C0C728CDDAB0994DA404482
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/Tech/20010101/19/710
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E7D9133BF932A35751C0A963948260
I don't know if it's still there but the Biltmore Room had a cell phone booth a couple of years ago:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/258223p-221017c.html
Since I refuse to pay $50 a month for cell phone service they better keep pay phones around.
www.forgotten-ny.com
They were damn useful when all hell broke loose on 9/11. They'll be useful too when the city's overrun by zombies.
ever search any payphone directories online? the two i know of are:
http://www.payphone-directory.org/
and
http://www.payphone-project.com/
(this site also has pictures of many payphones in their natural habitats)
what's fun is finding payphones that accept incoming calls (the directories provide this info) . my friends and i would occasionally (usually after a bit of drinking) make calls to phones in an effort to talk to some curious stranger adventurous enough to answer. also, does anyone remember the classic episode of pete & pete where one day a year the town was terrorized by a payphone that would ring for hours and hours on end? or how about the classic kids in the hall phone episode?
Those things are probably the most germy things in nyc, which is saying something. I don't want them near my head and I'm generally germ friendly. excellent photo.
How weird is it that pay phones will someday be an anachronism for our kids?
Much like rotary phones are today. I am not sure a 20 year old would know how to use one.
Poor Superman. He just can't catch a break.
hey lorna, I'm just a smidge past twenty and not only do i know how to use a rotary phone, i own (and use) one. just sayin'...
I'm 23. I know how to use a rotary phone. Sheesh-o.
Very interesting website. Keep up the outstanding work and thank you...
Pretty nice site, wants to see much more on it! :)
they better keep pay-phone/phonebooths around. i was already sick of cell phones when they came out, most annoying thing ever created.
Ru fucking stupid