Out Of Service Pay Phone Editorial Photo

A payphone alternative spelling: pay phone is typically a coin-operated public telephone, often located in a telephone booth or in high-traffic outdoor areas, with prepayment by inserting money usually coins or by billing a credit or debit card, or a telephone card. Payphones were once ubiquitous worldwide, but their prevalence has declined significantly in the 21st century due to the increasing availability of mobile phones. New York City, which once had 30,000, removed its last public payphone in 2022.