Perhaps what they really need is to simply modernize the system, using smartcards rather than coins, as every European country has done already. Despite the prevalence of cell phones in Europe, you still find phone booths everywhere, constantly being used. They're easy to find and easy to use.. no worrying about how much change to put in, you can even make international calls at rates not as ridiculous as you would expect, without fumbling for a million quarters. Smartcards also make the system much easier to maintain for the phone company.. no one has to go around to empty out the change boxes. Living in the US for 20 years I made fewer pay phone calls than I have in six months in France..
Slashdot Mirror
Perhaps what they really need is to simply modernize the system, using smartcards rather than coins, as every European country has done already. Despite the prevalence of cell phones in Europe, you still find phone booths everywhere, constantly being used. They're easy to find and easy to use.. no worrying about how much change to put in, you can even make international calls at rates not as ridiculous as you would expect, without fumbling for a million quarters. Smartcards also make the system much easier to maintain for the phone company.. no one has to go around to empty out the change boxes. Living in the US for 20 years I made fewer pay phone calls than I have in six months in France..