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Other Stuff That Has Little To Do With PLA => Phones in the News => Topic started by: rbcp on December 03, 2007, 10:30:30 AM

Title: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: rbcp on December 03, 2007, 10:30:30 AM
from http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=24840 (http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=24840)

AT&T announced today that they are exiting the pay phone business, and will be phasing out 65,000 pay phones in 13 states, according to Bloomberg.

From AT&T:

    The company plans to phase out both public pay phones and phones provided under contracts at government correctional facilities through the end of next year. All customers will receive advance notification of specific plans as well as information on other potential providers and product options.

The move affects AT&T pay phones in the company's traditional 13-state service area only. BellSouth Corp., which was acquired by AT&T Inc. in late 2006, had previously exited the pay phone business in its nine-state service area. AT&T's wholesale pay phone services are not affected.

Public Communications will honor all existing customer contract terms and conditions while continuing to provide excellent customer service throughout the withdrawal process.

"This is the right time for us to take this step on behalf of our customers, employees and stockholders," said David Huntley, senior vice president for Customer Information Services. "We expect that independent providers will pick up much of this business, and, as we exit the business, we will be able to refocus our resources to areas that offer stronger growth potential and greater opportunity for the company." The phone company cited "significant pressure" from "reduced pay phone usage" as a result of cellphones as the reason for the phase out. AT&T installed the first coin-operated pay phone at a bank in Hartford, CT in 1889.


So I guess this is all the newest AT&T states, such as California, Texas, and most of the midwest.  Do COCOTS even make enough money to survive these days?  I doubt even 75% of the removed AT&T phones will be replaced by COCOTS.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Tachyon on December 03, 2007, 10:32:11 AM
I guess this means that 711 will let me use their phone again for free now?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 03, 2007, 11:29:16 AM
I wonder what kind of system prisoners in the penitentiary and jail systems are going to use now that they can't use the pay phone to make collect calls and run up their families phone bills.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Scienceman123 on December 03, 2007, 12:37:31 PM
Now what are we all going to do? Move to a less-advanced country?

Hell, even they all have cell phones now.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: rbcp on December 03, 2007, 01:57:25 PM
I wonder what kind of system prisoners in the penitentiary and jail systems are going to use now that they can't use the pay phone to make collect calls and run up their families phone bills.

I'm sure the pay phones in jails/prisons will always be very profitable.  Their rates are nuts and the prisoners don't have any other choice for phone calls.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Raptor on December 03, 2007, 02:10:02 PM
I guess we'll all have to hold a redbox up to the empty phone booths, to simulate the good old days...
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 03, 2007, 02:12:15 PM
I guess we'll all have to hold a redbox up to the empty phone booths, to simulate the good old days...

I'm sure the smaller companies will leave their phone booths in place for a little while longer.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Tachyon on December 03, 2007, 02:19:07 PM
Wouldn't it be 1337 as fuck if we had our own payphones we could just sneak up and weld into place on all the abandoned poles? Either that or signs advertising for PLA or something else. Actually this gets more and more stupid as I think about it.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: DataHog512 on December 03, 2007, 04:01:16 PM
*sob* :'( NOOOOOO! FUCK YOU AT&T!!! *sob* :'(

Well, I was reading that Verison, the second largest payfone provider, says they have no plans to phase out pay phones any time soon, So thats one good thing.

Hmm, are own payfones... thats SO stupid it just might work! or not... Come brothers! We must keep the pay phones alive! *protest*

(man i'm bored...)
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: astralninja on December 03, 2007, 04:08:50 PM
Ohh noes, I make lots of calls on the payphones. I guess i will have to move on. :-[
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 03, 2007, 04:14:13 PM
*sob* :'( NOOOOOO! FUCK YOU AT&T!!! *sob* :'(

Well, I was reading that Verison, the second largest payfone provider, says they have no plans to phase out pay phones any time soon, So thats one good thing.

Hmm, are own payfones... thats SO stupid it just might work! or not... Come brothers! We must keep the pay phones alive! *protest*

(man i'm bored...)


I would like to request at this time that you pre-write all your posts in a text editor that checks for grammer and spelling errors.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: DataHog512 on December 03, 2007, 06:08:53 PM
Oh sorry, just so you know, I spelled it "fone" on porpase. But in the future, I'll try to use better grammer.

Back on topic, if we want PLA pay phones, go to
http://cgi.ebay.com/Payphone-Pay-Phone-Telephone-Used-LIQUIDATION-SALE_W0QQitemZ150188837237QQihZ005QQcategoryZ985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting (http://cgi.ebay.com/Payphone-Pay-Phone-Telephone-Used-LIQUIDATION-SALE_W0QQitemZ150188837237QQihZ005QQcategoryZ985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)

A liquidation sale of AT&T payphones, so this is a double-edged sowrd, somthing good comes out of it at a high price.
                                       I'm G0NN4 G37 M3 4 P4YF0N3 DUDES!!11
If yoo don't speek 1337--->(I'm gonna get me a payphone dudes!!!!)
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: M-26-7 on December 03, 2007, 06:48:46 PM
Oh sorry, just so you know, I spelled it "fone" on porpase. But in the future, I'll try to use better grammer.

Back on topic, if we want PLA pay phones, go to
http://cgi.ebay.com/Payphone-Pay-Phone-Telephone-Used-LIQUIDATION-SALE_W0QQitemZ150188837237QQihZ005QQcategoryZ985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting (http://cgi.ebay.com/Payphone-Pay-Phone-Telephone-Used-LIQUIDATION-SALE_W0QQitemZ150188837237QQihZ005QQcategoryZ985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)

A liquidation sale of AT&T payphones, so this is a double-edged sowrd, somthing good comes out of it at a high price.
                                       I'm G0NN4 G37 M3 4 P4YF0N3 DUDES!!11
If yoo don't speek 1337--->(I'm gonna get me a payphone dudes!!!!)
Wait, what?
You posted something interesting? HOW?
I kind of wish I had 60$ to burn on a payphone.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: gangals on December 03, 2007, 06:55:57 PM
But in the future, I'll try to use better grammer.

 *bs* *bs* *bs* *bs* *bs* *puke*
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: MegaKitsune on December 03, 2007, 10:42:18 PM
Damn, wish I had read this forum before I emailed you RBCP.  ;D

That payphone auction is interesting, but what I'd really be bidding for is the payphone keys that come with it, you could like open every coinbox and take all the money, or put dog crap inside of it, or something.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: murd0c on December 04, 2007, 05:24:02 AM
Damn, wish I had read this forum before I emailed you RBCP.  ;D

That payphone auction is interesting, but what I'd really be bidding for is the payphone keys that come with it, you could like open every coinbox and take all the money, or put dog crap inside of it, or something.

That isn't how a T-Key works, you fucking idiot furry.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: mr_doc on December 04, 2007, 05:36:31 AM
*sob* :'( NOOOOOO! FUCK YOU AT&T!!! *sob* :'(

Well, I was reading that Verison, the second largest payfone provider, says they have no plans to phase out pay phones any time soon, So thats one good thing.

Hmm, are own payfones... thats SO stupid it just might work! or not... Come brothers! We must keep the pay phones alive! *protest*

(man i'm bored...)


I would like to request at this time that you pre-write all your posts in a text editor that checks for grammer and spelling errors.
I recommend hooked on phonics.
I recommend 97th trimester abortion
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: MegaKitsune on December 05, 2007, 12:44:49 AM
Damn, wish I had read this forum before I emailed you RBCP.  ;D

That payphone auction is interesting, but what I'd really be bidding for is the payphone keys that come with it, you could like open every coinbox and take all the money, or put dog crap inside of it, or something.

That isn't how a T-Key works, you fucking idiot furry.

1. I am not copulating at the moment.

2. I completed highschool, and am looking for an appropriate technical school (college is great for people who want to waste their money).

3. I'm not into furry anymore. Hence the avatar change.

You're right, I don't know how a T-Key works.


So out of 4 points, you got one right. You're a fucking failure, buddy.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: frog on December 05, 2007, 05:11:08 AM
1. I am not copulating at the moment.

2. I completed highschool, and am looking for an appropriate technical school (college is great for people who want to waste their money).

3. I'm not into furry anymore. Hence the avatar change.

You're right, I don't know how a T-Key works.


So out of 4 points, you got one right. You're a fucking failure, buddy.

1. You called him a "fucking" failure. Way to think your post through.

2. How dare you think that completing highschool or going to college makes you intelligent. In fact, had he posted this statement, you would have jumped all over him for thinking what you thought.

3. Once a furry, always a furry.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 05, 2007, 11:27:49 AM
1. I am not copulating at the moment.

2. I completed highschool, and am looking for an appropriate technical school (college is great for people who want to waste their money).

3. I'm not into furry anymore. Hence the avatar change.

You're right, I don't know how a T-Key works.


So out of 4 points, you got one right. You're a fucking failure, buddy.

1. You called him a "fucking" failure. Way to think your post through.

2. How dare you think that completing highschool or going to college makes you intelligent. In fact, had he posted this statement, you would have jumped all over him for thinking what you thought.

3. Once a furry, always a furry.

1. I <3 Frog

2. This is the best direction a thread has gone in a long time

3. The Enrichment Center is required to remind you that you will be baked, and then there will be cake.

4. I like to count.

5. MegaKitsune, and PHY-6 are Epic Phailures.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Raptor on December 05, 2007, 11:36:36 AM
I just remembered every payphone in this area is VERIZON!

w00t,

But the one in our school was At&T, and it got shut down :(

Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 05, 2007, 11:39:00 AM
90% of the ones around here are QWEST or COCOTs so I'm not going to be seing any difference. Who's area is covered mostly by AT&T?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Lestan Gregor on December 05, 2007, 12:05:19 PM
3. Once a furry, always a furry.

I saw furotica one time....i now close my eyes every time i flip by cartoon network....just in case i see that Digimon with a giant penis...

*Shudder*
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 05, 2007, 01:27:15 PM
(http://www.geocities.com/inochinoya/tr_character/tr_inuyasha.gif)

Inuyasha anyone?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Lestan Gregor on December 05, 2007, 03:43:26 PM
Not looking,not looking,not looking.............

(http://www.adultitis.org/media/woman_screaming.gif)


shit! my eyes are bleeding!
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 05, 2007, 06:00:05 PM
Not looking,not looking,not looking.............

(http://www.adultitis.org/media/woman_screaming.gif)


shit! my eyes are bleeding!

Is that a crease in her shirt or a REALLY wierd nipple?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: PHY-6 on December 05, 2007, 08:15:17 PM
1. I am not copulating at the moment.

2. I completed highschool, and am looking for an appropriate technical school (college is great for people who want to waste their money).

3. I'm not into furry anymore. Hence the avatar change.

You're right, I don't know how a T-Key works.


So out of 4 points, you got one right. You're a fucking failure, buddy.

1. You called him a "fucking" failure. Way to think your post through.

2. How dare you think that completing highschool or going to college makes you intelligent. In fact, had he posted this statement, you would have jumped all over him for thinking what you thought.

3. Once a furry, always a furry.

1. I <3 Frog

2. This is the best direction a thread has gone in a long time

3. The Enrichment Center is required to remind you that you will be baked, and then there will be cake.

4. I like to count.

5. MegaKitsune, and PHY-6 are Epic Phailures.

1. Using commas when, not warranted is Phucking Phantastic.

2.

3. I am not the walrus. But I do have a mustache that closely resembles that of a walrus'.

4. What happened to #2?

5. I am going to go to ghostride my whip through a Wendy's drive-through because that is science.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: cMc_TPhreak on December 06, 2007, 12:10:44 AM
Not looking,not looking,not looking.............

(http://www.adultitis.org/media/woman_screaming.gif)


shit! my eyes are bleeding!

Is that a crease in her shirt or a REALLY wierd nipple?

Maybe a crease caused by a really weird nipple?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Lestan Gregor on December 06, 2007, 12:27:38 AM

Is that a crease in her shirt or a REALLY wierd nipple?

Maybe a crease caused by a really weird nipple?

Maybe a crease caused by your face.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: cMc_TPhreak on December 06, 2007, 12:29:19 AM

Is that a crease in her shirt or a REALLY wierd nipple?

Maybe a crease caused by a really weird nipple?

Maybe a crease caused by your face.

Yeah... thats what it is.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: AmishGangsta on December 07, 2007, 06:59:57 AM
I'm not saying goodbye to mine...

(http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb149/NotoriousAmishG/100_0481.jpg)
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Nod on December 07, 2007, 09:39:57 AM
I've got a couple sitting around here as well that will never go anywhere. The broken one is a doorstop now.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: trevelyn on December 14, 2007, 07:29:37 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Payphone-Pay-Phone-Telephone-Used-LIQUIDATION-SALE_W0QQitemZ150188837237QQihZ005QQcategoryZ985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting (http://cgi.ebay.com/Payphone-Pay-Phone-Telephone-Used-LIQUIDATION-SALE_W0QQitemZ150188837237QQihZ005QQcategoryZ985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)

the phone on the bottom right is a COCOT not an AT&T phone.  wtf? they were like "uuhh.. thats a payphone, lets take that one too."
fucking dolts, anyways did anyone buy a payphone yet?
we should rig asterisk up to accept redbox tones, like how phiber did for the bluebox tones, and hook a cheap payphone up to it for fun. we need to record every payphone error in exsistence then and use them in the asterisk.  then once their hooked up we can pick up on payphone, red box it, call another and seize it and then MF.  that would be bad ass.  and fake simluation of course, but bad ass.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Tachyon on December 14, 2007, 01:58:53 PM
"This is a Recording" would be a good place to start as far as collecting the error messages.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: s1acker on December 15, 2007, 09:40:31 AM
I wonder what kind of system prisoners in the penitentiary and jail systems are going to use now that they can't use the pay phone to make collect calls and run up their families phone bills.

I'm sure the pay phones in jails/prisons will always be very profitable.  Their rates are nuts and the prisoners don't have any other choice for phone calls.

Yeah the county jail here sells calling cards for $1.50 a minute. And it takes a minute no matter if the party you're trying to reach answers or not. But I guess it's that or like $3.00 a minute to call them collect.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: trevelyn on December 15, 2007, 09:43:28 AM
s1acker has a They Live avatar! wholey shit! xD r0x!
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: rbcp on December 15, 2007, 10:13:23 AM
I miss my Bell South pay phone.  It's one of the few things I haven't managed to bring back to Oregon with me yet.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1078/542933023_88e13ff5df.jpg)
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Zazen on December 15, 2007, 01:59:32 PM
Are those juggling knives in the background? They're like machetes
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Tachyon on December 15, 2007, 03:54:46 PM
Dude where did you get yours Arbie?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: murd0c on December 15, 2007, 04:22:32 PM
Dude where did you get yours Arbie?

BellSouth was actually selling them retrofitted for home connections about 2.5 years ago.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Tachyon on December 15, 2007, 04:38:06 PM
Wow that's cool I wish I had known that back then.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: rbcp on December 15, 2007, 05:37:05 PM
I think it was $115 or so, including shipping.
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: Tachyon on December 15, 2007, 05:51:45 PM
That's not bad actually. Can you see the stuff that lets it call the company to go empty the hopper and the coinbox removal stuff? Did you get the key to open it too?
Title: Re: Say goodbye to pay phones!
Post by: frog on January 09, 2008, 12:24:22 PM
3. I am not the walrus. But I do have a mustache that closely resembles that of a walrus'.

1. I like to pretend I am having gramm0r. But in fact its" as big a mystery to me as a girls_.

<3