There were many decades between the proliferation of home phones and cell phones. During that time many people may be away from home and need to contact someone over the phone. Payphones were installed in public places that anyone could use to meet that need. They took change in exchange for minutes using the phone.
Wtf is a payphone
TheBat@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
Landlines with coin slots. Insert coin, call someone. Insert more coins to keep talking.
deeferg@lemmy.ca 8 hours ago
Oh my god this is a real question and I’m getting old.