Pay phones to be removed from University of Houston

HOUSTON – The University of Houston announced earlier this month that AT&T will eliminate the majority of pay phones on its campus because of low usage. \nThe rise of wireless and mobile communication used around campus in recent years by students and faculty has been the main reason for the decision by AT&T. \n“(The) ongoing growth of wireless phones and other mobile communications devices (have) significantly impacted the demand for and usage of retail pay phone services,” AT&T said in a press release. \nThe change has been met with mixed reactions by students, who are split on the decision of having the phones on campus at all. \n“(The University should) just have them close to every building,” mathematics graduate student Ojas Deve said. \nOther students say they do not see the reason for having pay phones on campus at all. \n“Why do we have (pay phones)?” electrical engineering major and junior David Truong said. “When, I mean, cell phones are everywhere now. ... Everyone has cell phones now.” \nWork on removing the pay phones is expected to occur this month and should last a minimum of two months, according to a press release. \nThe impending decrease of pay phones is considered a bad move by some students who say that there are not enough on campus, citing safety concerns and convenience in case of emergencies. \n“I think it’s a bad idea,” Deve said. “Because in case your cell phone battery dies, you need to call someone in case you have an emergency.” \nNot all pay phones will be extracted, however, as some sites on campus are regularly utilized and will remain active. \n“It’s good to have (pay phones) around, just in case you forget your cell phone at home,” Truong said. “You don’t know, you might need one.”