Facebook Forced To Let You Vote On Privacy Changes
Startling Percentage Of Computer Users Are 'Pirates'
AT&T to Phase Out Pay Phones By 2009
The writing is on the cave wall as a tried and true friend moves from city mainstay to relic of the Stone Age. Telephone giant AT&T will leave the pay phone market by the end of 2008, the company announced today. PR Newswire reports that the widespread use of cell phones and other communication devices has left AT&T with a declining market it no longer wishes to pursue. The phasing out of public pay phones and phones contracted out to correctional facilities will begin immediately and be limited to AT&T's thirteen state service area. Verizon, meanwhile, continues to offer pay phone service in 33 out of 50 states.
The move by AT&T, though, follows a general trend in the shrinking pay phone market. BellSouth Corporation, an AT&T acquisition in 2006, halted pay phone service in its nine state area in 2001. Indeed, today there are only about 1 million public pay phones in the United States, compared to 2.8 million in 1998. It is expected, however, that independent providers will pick up a portion of AT&T's business. In its announcement, the company assured customers that it will honor all existing contracts over the next year, while publicizing alternative providers and service options.
As sentimental as we can get about the passing of an era into a new, annoying age in which even nine year-olds have a CrackBerry and Bluetooth headset attached to the dome, we realize that it's true: All good things must come to an end, especially when we're talking wireless.
From PR Newswire Via MarketWatch (AOL Money & Finance)
Related Links:
- AT&T CEO Says High-Speed 3G iphone Coming Next Year
- AT&T Recalling Some Black Jacks
- Verizon Wireless To Let You Use Any Phone On Its Network
Zhang Ziyi Slams Prostitution Allegations
Disney World Scammers Scored Four Years of Free Vacations
Lost Dr. Seuss Cartoons Show Another Side Of The Author
Rookie Cop Reportedly Berated, Called 'A Rat' For Arresting Off-Duty Officer
Stranger's Kiss Keeps 16-Year-Old From Committing Suicide
40 Years Later 'Napalm Girl' Tells Her Story
Walmart Ending Membership in Conservative Group
Apple CEO Tim Cook interview at D10: the liveblog
Disturbing Video Allegedly Shows Montreal Torso Suspect Murdering Victim
How I Went Bankrupt at 23
Can a New Guy Save Best Buy?
Student Ate Roommate's Brain And Heart, Cops Say
Woman Claims Kangaroo Stalked Her for 2 Days, Then Attacked
Beyonce 60-Pound Weight Loss: Queen B Flaunts New Figure During Comeback Concert Series
Chain Food Showdown: The Best & Worst Buffalo Wings
Rodents Run Amok at Upstate New York Walmart
LOOK: Photos Of Military Moms Breastfeeding In Uniform Cause Controversy
Maine Police Believe Ayla Reynolds Is Dead
Heidi Klum's Sexiest (And Scariest) Outfits
PHOTOS: Charlize Theron's Short And Shoulder-Baring Style
Is This The Most Timeless Hairstyle, Ever?
National Spelling Bee Winner Is I-M-P-R-E-S-S-I-V-E
Calif. Man Becomes Internet Sensation In China For Random Act Of Kindness
Is Kate Walsh Leaving 'Private Practice' Next Season?
Edwards Found Not Guilty On Count 3, Jury Hung On Other Counts
George Zimmerman's Bond Revoked
The State With The Most Smokers Is...
Witherspoon Bigamy Case Heats Up
Space Agency Predicts Date Of World-Ending Galactic Smash-Up
See Kim Without Her Wig On 'Don't Be Tardy For The Wedding'
Jim Moret: 'Still The Most Beautiful Girl I've Ever Seen'
The Coolest Movie Posters You've Never Seen
Comments
93
Subscribe to commentsPatric J. MorrisonDec 8th 2007 1:05PM
I think the pay phones should remain not only as a convienience, but as a necessity.In a town not far from where I live there is not a single public telephone. Why? because of repeated vandalism. Coin boxes are like piggy banks to thieves. So why not design and equip pay phones to accept phone or atm cards.There are not enough celltowers either.So, until everyone has a cellphone or we can bounce a signal off a satellite to reach someone sort of like GPS technology,"PAY MUST STAY"
M. HoffDec 8th 2007 1:11PM
Remember, payphones may be convenient, but they are no longer profitable. And since AT&T is in the business of providing convenience only while it is profitable, you can't expect them to stick with a dinosaur that is draining their profits.
Chili offDec 8th 2007 1:15PM
I moved to San Diego four years ago, and one of the first things I noticed about this area is there are NO pay phones. My understanding is that it's been this way here for over a decade already. I think it sucks personally.
Tuula WestraDec 8th 2007 1:17PM
Cant find a payphone in Europe as they are much more advanced in the communications as the US is.
SpankDec 8th 2007 2:44PM
What are you gonna do in case of an emergency and your cell phone loses reception? Are you gonna run, drive, or take a bus to the nearest sherrif's office or fire station? I don't effing think so scooter.
CarsonDec 8th 2007 2:01PM
So far every comment here has been in favor of keeping pay phones. AT&T can you hear us now?
melbournebeachDec 8th 2007 2:13PM
One idiot wants the government to take over pay phones, they screw up almost anything they touch duh
KarenDec 8th 2007 4:01PM
Jesse Haney says:
For me, the main reason to keep pay phones around is: If you dont already know, you cannot dial an 800,866, or any kind of FREE 800 number on a cell phone at anytime FREE minutes or not doesnt matter if its midnight or noon !!! What's up with that ? Isnt that the whole purpose of an 800 number ? a pay phone, you can dial an 800 number 24/7... Seems very wrong to me !!! Jesse
You say you have AT & T (aka Cingular).....well I do too and I am not sure why you cant call 800 numbers but I can and just tested this before posting. All the 800 part of a toll free call is the same as an area code. So not sure why you think this wont work.
JanisDec 8th 2007 8:36PM
What about places where cell phones aren't allowed? I remember when my son was in Chicago in boot camp the few times he did get to call home he did it on a pay phone since they weren't allowed to have cell phones in boot camp. I hope Verizon will be there if AT&T isn't.
lisaDec 9th 2007 1:58AM
this is BS, AT&T doesn't want to maintain the phones no more, it's not making a big enough profit for them, they don't care about the people, if they did all of our common sense answers would have slapped them in the face by now with their own mind!!!
yawningchassmDec 18th 2007 10:45PM
As a child i as once stuck in a full size phonebooth badk in the 70s and two young women stoped to let me out i think about that moment time & again public phones need to stay.
RockyJan 5th 2008 3:40AM
This doesn't surprise me one bit. It's another self-serving move by AT&T. I can back that up:
http://www.1040.com/consultant/MyContent.aspx?id=65551&menutext=AT&T%20HAS%20TURNED%20VERY%20CORRUPT
Octavia MayJan 8th 2008 2:12PM
The US is too dangerous for pay phones, plus they are always dirty, riff-raff use them for latrines. Imagine the germs! Now that they are outsourced, they are a ripoff.