Pay Phones - A Disappearing American Icon?

Question

AT&T announced they will be removing all pay phones soon.

Even though I have not used one in about 5 years, I am a little sad to see them go.

Picture it: You have your 5 year old grandchild with you and you see a pay phone and she's like "Grandma what is that thing?"

Answer 1

since they still look like a phone, The question maybe "Grandma what kind of Cell phone is that??"
Remember when they were a dime to use...ahhh memories.
Oddly enough, I saw a payphone just last week at our county courthouse when i went to update my license. I hadnt even seen one for years before that.
But since almost everyone on the planet has a cell phone, there is no reason for them to be there anymore. I am sure people felt the same way when hitching posts for horses were removed when cars took over the roads! :)


***Note to Gimp below me...You can still buy a record player, the only reason I know is I saw them at best buy. I dont know why, but they still sell them. Not records just the player....

Answer 2

I hope they don't take them all out. Not everyone has or wants a cell phone. If I am out and about and need to make a call I want a pay phone. I will only get a cell as a last resort. I just got off a cruise with a woman that worn hers on her wrist. She never took it off. She wasn't worried about anyone at home so it wasn't really for an emergency. Besides, what could she do anyway. She's in the middle of the ocean!! Ridicules!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

AT&T announced that they are selling their pay phone business while it is still profitable.. there was no talk of removing the phones.. they will just be owned and operated by local companies who will most probably charge more for their use..

With so many people having cell phones now and even prepaid phones available for people who don't have credit pay phones are basically redundant..

I think the beginning of the end was when they got rid of the phone booths in favor of that alcove style.. it made it almost impossible to comfortablly use them..

I am sure that there will continue to be pay phones in public places like train stations and airports.. you might see a decline in single isolated phones in neighborhoods..

Answer 4

I have a friend who works for Verizon and who's job is is to collect the money and maintain those phones. He was told that his job would soon be eliminated and he is scrambling in the company to find a new one.

I remember my grandparent's house in Chicago had a phone that we had to put nickels in and the guy would come every week to the house and collect them .... Early 1950's.

Yes, it's another icon fading in the sunset. It's a shame but that's progress! Wire phones are so much more reliable than cells but I doubt that we can regress. I don't even have a land line in my house, it's all about the network. (AT&T, BTW)

Answer 5

Actually I think this is terrible! Yes, I'm sure usage went way down..and in urban settings many phones were used for nefarious purposes [hence some could not 'receive' calls] but not everyone has a cell...and what if a cell goes dead or there is no signal where you are and you need a phone?

The world is going to tekkie itself right out of existence...then we'll all have to go back to the 'old ways'...lol

Answer 6

I know I will miss them, but other technology has made them obsolete. I remember when calls were a dime from a pay phone. But I won't miss the times I was forced to use one on a trip when our car broke down. Using the pay phone cost us about $5 per minute. It was exhorbitant, but it was an emergency,and I believe the companies exploit the poor desparate travellers who encounter trouble.

Answer 7

I can't even remember when is the last time I used a pay phone, but nevertheless I was sad to hear that AT & T is going to discontinue them. I still remember having a black rotary phone at home. Now when people hear songs like Operator by Jim Croce and 867-5309 by Tommy Tutone people won't really get the "dime" for a phone call type lyric.

Oh well thats progress......................

Answer 8

The "Pay Phone" is dead.

Long live the "Cell Phone".

It's just another sign of progress, when was the last time you saw a record or a record player in a store. Cassette tapes are history as are VHS tapes. Hech fire, I got a new fangled EEElectric starter in my last car.

My only real concern is for E.T.. When E.T. wants to phone home, what will the little guy use. Can't you just see him trying to buy a pre-paid cell phone at Wal-Mart. BTW, how much is an intergalactic call on Verizon?

Merry Christmas.

This was fun, thanks and here's your star.

Answer 9

Oh, Pay Phones, I forgot about those, I remember I was reading the news paper about that, I thought they meant the Pay to Go phones... ummm... but the only time I see pay phones be put to use is when the terrorist or mobsters have to use them in movies.... Icon, I think not, I remember every time I needed to use one, I never had enough change, and I'd be screwed.... All Hail the Cell Phone!

Answer 10

Every now and then I'm glad for one. Like when I lost my cell phone in the Montreal airport, or when I'm out of country.

And - there was an outfit here at home that was building pay phones. Darned things charged for everything including calls to 800 numbers. They didn't last long. I won't miss stuff like that.