BT Phone Book

[speckytecky]

BT's 'The Phone Book' was on our doormat this morning. It got me thinking does anyone actually use the conventional phone book anymore?

 

We certainly don't and haven't in decades.

 

This still pretty expensively looking product gets consigned to recycling nowadays toot sweet.

[Jamman960]

I think the yellow pages is doing one final year in print this year

 

I’m the same, haven’t used a phone book in many years

[mikeprice]

When I was a kid it was an essential document - everyone was in it

 

But then it was much much thicker

 

nowadays no-one is in it - and most companies are not bothering paying to be in it as no-one looks anyway (IMO)

 

can't really see the point in keeping it anymore

[elsiegee40]

I agree. It's got so thin that it's not even useful as a monitor stand now. I cannot see the point of printing it. BT is probably required to do so by some act of parliament that was created when it was privatised.

[Edu-IT]

Reminds me of a chat I had with BT when I was cancelling a paid entry. His sales pitch was about how will people find the business etc. I’m not sure what year he thought it was! He was really trying.

[mikeprice]

I agree. It's got so thin that it's not even useful as a monitor stand now. I cannot see the point of printing it. BT is probably required to do so by some act of parliament that was created when it was privatised.

 

I think it is part of the residual agreement that forces BT to keep the Phone Boxes working etc etc

[Arthur]

I think it is part of the residual agreement that forces BT to keep the Phone Boxes working etc etc

Like the phone book, a large number of phone boxes (over 13,300!) don't get used at all.

 

You're right that BT have to repair the phone boxes and give 42-90 days notice before removing a phone box when there isn't one within 400 metres of another box.

 

BT to scrap half of the UK's remaining telephone boxes « BBC News

 

BT is to scrap half of the UK's remaining 40,000 telephone boxes and focus on the ones in locations where people are more likely to use them.

 

In 1992 at their peak before mobile phones became popular, there were 92,000 phone boxes in the UK.

 

Telephone boxes still handle 33,000 calls a day, but one third of kiosks are never used to make a call.

 

[...]

 

More than half of phone boxes lose money and the number of calls is declining by more than 20% per year.

 

The cost of maintaining telephone boxes annually is about £6m. BT is responsible for repairing damage to the kiosks, including replacing glass panes and broken receivers, as well as removing graffiti, rubbish and human waste.

 

'Local veto'

It is estimated that 93% of all people in the UK now own a mobile phone, and 98% of the UK has 3G or 4G mobile internet coverage.

 

However, phone booths are still used by children, the elderly, people who can't afford mobile phones, and in emergencies when smartphone batteries go flat.

 

If there are two kiosks within 400m walking distance of a site, BT is allowed to remove one, as long as there is one left.

 

But if the telecoms provider seeks to remove the only phone booth on the site, Ofcom rules state BT must inform the public and consult with the local authorities. The authority then has 90 days to object, which is known as a "local veto".

 

"Payphone removals are carried out in strict adherence to Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities. Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won't remove the payphone," said BT.

 

Edited October 8, 2017 by Arthur

[mikeprice]

I used to live in the centre of a 'village' - i.e. suburban area of 4 estates (3 council and 1 private) based around a roundabout

 

this was in the 70s - the number of teenage girls that could be fitted into a single phone box while one of them is still able to make a phone call - is unbelievable!

 

and mobile phone have robbed us of that

[speckytecky]

Spot on folks. I've had a response from the CEO of BT already who confirmed that they ar obliged to delver it to UK households. Mindful of the fact it's a colossal environmental hit send waste I've gone back to him asking if they are challenging the legislation I've also raised the issue with my MP.

[unixman_again]

It used to the essential telephone accessory, but not now. I can't remember the last time one was delivered; it automatically goes straight into the recycle bin, as does the Yellow Pages and the Thompson. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a Thompson for ages - maybe they've gone too.

[elsiegee40]

Spot on folks. I've had a response from the CEO of BT already who confirmed that they ar obliged to delver it to UK households. Mindful of the fact it's a colossal environmental hit send waste I've gone back to him asking if they are challenging the legislation I've also raised the issue with my MP.

 

When the legislation was created, nobody imagined the internet and mobile revolutions. I guess they haven't been losing enough money on it to make a challenge worthwhile so far

[hardtailstar]

We dont use ours, it goes straight in the recycling bin. I taught my dad how to search the internet for company phone numbers if he needs it.