Payphones Past

Payphone News

Titan: The Fine Print

Dialing Instruction found on a Titan Payphone.

12 years ago

A Sinner’s Prayer

I spotted this poem stuck under the handset of a midtown Manhattan payphone. I did what I sometimes do. I…

12 years ago

Payphones of the Future, Y2K Style

The payphone of the future has been around for a long time. Look at these examples from 2000 of hybrid…

12 years ago

Rockefeller Center’s “Communications” Portal

A curious bit of signage hovers over a semi-circular staircase at Rockefeller Center. I think it is payphone-related.

12 years ago

E.H.U.C.: The Fine Print

East Harlem Unity Communications (EHUC) is the best payphone service provider in New York City. I use payphones almost every…

12 years ago

Telebeam: The Fine Print

Even the most intrepid payphone user is unlikely to read the fine print found on most public telephones. The text…

12 years ago

Tennessee State Payphone Locator, 2009 Data

Tennessee's 2009 "Request For Proposals for Payphone Service" included a gem that passed me by: A list of all known…

12 years ago

Sorry!

This advertising-supported Telebeam payphone in Astoria has been "TEMPORARILY OUT OF SERVICE" for several years. I have attempted to do…

12 years ago

Should the Emergency Callbox Be Reinvented?

One species of New York City public telephony which simply will not die is the red emergency call box. Though…

13 years ago

Payphone Reinventors: Look to the Boneyard!

Contestants in New York City's Reinvent Payphones contest might want to look for inspiration from unlikely sources: How about the…

13 years ago