NYNEX Regression

by Rebel

Lately in the New York City area, there has been a proliferation of "Smart Payphones" operated by NYNEX.

They consist of a regular Bell operating company payphone with a special computer mechanism inside.  Apparently, the purpose of the phone is to either combat the use of beepers, or the use of fraudulent calling and credit cards.

On these phones, you pick up and dial a number.  After you dial the number, a digitized voice comes on and says "Thank you for using NYNEX."  If the phone happens to be in a particular place, such as Penn Station in Manhattan, the phone will say something like, "Thank you for using Penn Station."  You can tell these phones by the way dialing is handled.

You must dial slowly; each number must be pressed one at a time.  If you press one button quickly after another like on normal phones, the phones will not recognize the next number until the previous button is released.

The Problem

These phones restrict you from making international calls.

If you try to dial 011, the phone cuts you off after the first 1 and says: "We're sorry... restricted number."  This happens even if you dial a carrier access code before the 011, like: 10288-011

The way to get around that is by dialing a long distance operator and having them dial the number for you.  

The really amazing part about these phones is that after you call a number, whether it's a local number, an 800 number, or even a 0+ call, after pressing a certain number of Touch-Tones, the phone cuts you off and says, "No additional dialing allowed."!

I tried dialing 0+ area code and number and tried to bill it to my calling card.  OnMe phone cut my tones off after 12-digits and another cut me off after two!  What if you are trying to use a prepaid calling card or a regular calling card?

The Solution

The way to get around being cut off while using a regular calling card, like an AT&T call is as follows.

Instead of dialing 0+ area code plus number and getting cut off while entering your card number, just precede the zero with a carrier access code.

For example, dial 0 + 10288 + 0 + [NPA] + [NXX-XXXX] and then you can enter as many Touch-Tones as you need.

I called someone else from this type of phone and asked if they could hear the voice that came on and said no additional dialing, and they were only able to hear the sound drop out with silence.  If you are trying to call your answering machine or beep someone, you should have the local operator dial the number for you and then you will be able to use the Touch-Tones without interruption.

If you try calling one of these phones, after about two rings you will get a carrier tone, similar to a COCOT.  I tried calling one with my computer and it hangs up on me after it picks up.  The ringer is turned off on these phones, but if someone calls the phone and you pick up on the first ring, the Touch-Tones are not cut off.

NYNEX has had payphones before this that have these devices in them made by Mars Payphone Electronics Corp. which occasionally disconnect you when you begin to enter Touch-Tones!  I once called a beeper and as I was entering the number I got to enter about three-digits before it hung up and I lost my quarter.  When I tried again it let me get past seven-digits before hanging up.  I finally got to enter the whole ten-digits after a third time and 75 cents!