Definitions for payphone
pay·phone

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. payphonenoun

   a public telephone that requires pre-payment to operate, generally via the insertion of coins or a credit card

   I only had ten cents in my pocket, so I couldn't use the payphone to call a cab.

2. Etymology: from pay + phone

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Payphone

   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. Prepaid calling cards also facilitate establishing a call by first calling the provided toll-free telephone number, entering the card account number and PIN, then the desired telephone number. An equipment usage fee may be charged as additional units, minutes or tariff fee to the collect/third-party, debit, credit, telephone or prepaid calling card when used at payphones. By agreement with the landlord, either the phone company pays rent for the location and keeps the revenue, or the landlord pays rent for the phone and shares the revenue. Before the ubiquity of mobile phones, payphones were often found in public places to contribute to the notion of universal access to basic communication services. In the late 1920s, the cost of a payphone call in the United States was two cents. In the 1930s, calls were five cents. Early in the 21st century as payphones became rare, the price of a call was fifty cents. One thesis, written as early as 2003, recognized this as a digital divide problem.In the 20th century, payphones in some countries, such as Spain, used token coins, available for sale at a local retailer, to activate payphones, instead of legal tender coins. In some cases, these were upgraded to use magnetic cards or credit card readers over the years. 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.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Payphone

   A payphone is a public telephone, often located in a telephone booth or a privacy hood, with pre-payment by inserting money, a credit or debit card, or a telephone card. Payphones are often found in public places, transportation hubs such as airports or train stations, convenience stores, malls, casinos, and on street corners. By agreement with the landlord, either the phone company pays rent for the location and keeps the revenue, or the landlord pays rent for the phone and shares the revenue. Some payphones, particularly at gas stations, are mounted in drive-up structures that can be used without leaving the vehicle. Payphone revenues have sharply declined in many places, largely due to the increased usage of mobile phones. Payphone providers have sometimes tried to reverse the decline in usage by offering additional services such as SMS and Internet access, thus making their phone booths into Internet kiosks. The abandonment of payphones by telephone companies has angered some people who consider them a communication staple for low-income and low-credit consumers. In particular, payphones are useful for foreign or generally non-local travellers who need to place local calls, as well as those who simply don't like or cannot afford mobile phones.

Anagrams for payphone »

1. hypopnea

How to pronounce payphone?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say payphone in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of payphone in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of payphone in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Payphone
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payphone
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=payphone