Are there payphones with webcams aimed at them? Updated: May 02, 2012 UPDATE: Check out my story "Times Square Payphones Revisited" at PayphoneNews.com   Can I call these Times Square payphones shown on Earthcam? This link at Earthcam shows a set of 3 payphones near the corner of 46th Street and Broadway in Times Square, Manhattan: http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/ The numbers for these payphones are: 212-730-9261 212-840-9623 212-840-9479 Q: Is it possible to call these numbers and see who answers live on Earthcam? A: Highly unlikely, but it is not beyond possibility. These phones actually do accept incoming calls, but there's a trick to making a connection here. One of them accepts calls if someone answers on the very first ring. Another accepts calls if someone answers by the second ring. If no one answers by the first or second ring, then the phone goes to its internal modem. This internal modem, which sounds like a fax machine signal, is in place to prevent payphones from ringing interminably and inflicting wear and tear on the equipment. Unfortunately, while these phones do ring once or twice, my tests reveal that their ringing tones are virtually inaudible. You would have a hard time hearing these phones ring even if they were someplace quieter than the very noisy corner of 46th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. No one is going to hear or know that these phones ringing -- unless, perhaps, there is a planned time for a call. Someone could, with their hand on the phone, feel the ringing vibration and answer immediately. You would have a better chance calling another midtown payphone which is also visible on the Earthcam website. This one is located at 49th Street and Broadway outside a Charley O's restaurant, and my tests indicate that it rings fairly loudly. Unfortunately, like the other phones, it only rings once before going to the internal modem. Not only that, but after the internal modem kicks in it ties up the phone for several moments, making it impossible to "wardial" the phone and quickly make it ring again, re-capturing the attention of someone who might have heard it ring the first time. The number for this phone is: 212-245-7856 Another possibility is that calling repeatedly will eventually coincide with someone picking up the phone to make a call, unaware that the phone was ringing. Most New York City payphones are said to be programmed to reject incoming calls. Many payphones do, however, accept incoming calls, but only with this quick-handed (or just lucky) bit of timing needed to make a connection. Ocean Gallery World Center Payphone Webcam As far as I know, the only other payphone appearing on a live webcam is at the Ocean Gallery World Center Boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland. A snapshot from that webcam appears at the right. The number for the payphone is: 410-289-8935 Thanks to Payphone Project reader Ryan for sending in this number. This payphone accepts incoming calls, and it rings loud and clear. Like most live webcams the image is not viewable 100% of the time, so don't be surprised if the image is not always available. The link to the live image is: http://www.oceangallery.com/cam-big.asp I have seen a few other instances of payphones apparing on live webcams, but those webcams appear to have been short-lived. Considering the abundance of surveillance in modern society I would be surprised if the phones on this page were the only ones of their kind. If you know of a payphone on a live webcam and would like to see it added to this page, please contact me. -mt