With the advent of cell phones, the number of public payphones is gradually going extinct. However, there are still plenty of public payphones if you are looking for one. You just have to know where to look. Neighborhoods with a high number of immigrants who depend on calling cards to phone overseas instead of using cell phones are a good place to start searching for one. These are areas where a large number of people pass by or congregate.
New Alternatives – How to Find a Pay Phone
Over the years, alternatives keep springing up to replace public payphones. This was depicted in 2015 when according to Verve, New York City started replacing public pay phones with 10,000 internet pylons. These pylons, offer free Wi-Fi, free cell phone charging, and free local calls, including 911 and 311 calls. Now you can search for a keyboard and handset embedded in pylon’s edge owing to the city’s LinkNYC project.
Now let’s get going and see where you can see and enjoy the services of a public payphone.
Payphone Directory Websites
Some cities and regions depending on where you are looking for a pay phone, offer map guides that display the nearest payphone. The map includes the address and pay phone number. Currently, there are two websites that are devoted solely to locating pay phones. They are Pay Phone Directory and Payphone Project.
- On the website, you can locate your state or region.
- Scroll down to the city you are in to see a list of recommended websites.
In as much as you can use online resources as a guide, bear in mind that a public payphone may not remain in a specific spot all the time.
Shopping Malls
Some shopping malls have public payphones. Normally you can likely find a public payphone location just inside the main entrances or close to the customer service desk. The phones here are usually in good repair condition. This is because malls usually have security and lock the doors of the mall at night. So if you want to make a call using the payphone, you have to make one before the mall closes.
Public Buildings and Transit Stops
Other good places to find a pay phone includes courthouses and police stations. In this kind of locations, since there are lots of police officers around there’s little chance of vandalism and robbery. People who are trying to arrange bail create a high demand for pay phones. Also a public library is another place to look as well as transit stops. Others places are art galleries, tourist information centers and anywhere else tourists might gather which are funded by the municipality.
Restaurants, Gas Stations and Convenience Stores
Other common places you can find a payphone service is at gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and convenience stores. For locations that are open 24 hours a day, there’s always someone around. As such, the odds of vandalism are lower than those which are closed after dark.