Where I am Telstra has also made these telephone boxes available for use - completely for free.
Though I've never seen anyone using them, probably because nowadays everyone and their dog has mobile phones.
I guess this is because coin boxes encourage vandalism and require someone to go empty them. Upgrading them to credit card machines is probably far more expensive than the revenue they'll ever earn.
My guess is that because relatively few people are interested in using them (due to ~90% of Australia's population having cell phones) it means if they charged money and somebody didn't have a phone they'd likely just ask someone to borrow theirs for a second. Plus with VOIP calls are nearly free and they already have an internet uplink right there for the 5G.
I figure the only people that would choose to use them nowadays are likely in some type of "emergency" and can't use their cell - whether it's they left their phone at home, battery is dead, etc.
I remember plenty of numbers. The ones I dialed in the 90s. Friends I haven't seen for 20 years, who no longer live in the same country - I know their number. My phone number I had from when I was 6-10? Yup.
My landline number now? No idea. I use it a lot (no real cell coverage at home)
Yeah that's why I figure it'd have to be something fairly important - most people should at least know their area's emergency number, and hopefully at least one close friend/spouse/partner/parents to help you out. In the states we carry a paper with our insurance info which will include a tow company if you have towing insurance.
I mean, I know enough numbers by heart to get myself out of a rough situation and my phone is unusable.
Generally, I would recommend most people at least commit one or two to memory. Enough to pass a message along to your wider network or to get assistance.
