The number of pay phones in the US had drastically diminished in the last few years. According to one estimate, the total, since the mid-90s, has dropped from 2.7 mn to less than 2 mn (LawMeme coverage is here).
But pay phones might provide new functionality: Verizon intends to convert many of its 300,000 pay phones to wireless Internet access hot spots.
The wireless access points will have a fairly limited range -- 150 feet -- and will be available only in areas with high people traffic -- airports and hotels, for instance.