Pay Telephones Key Terms

Learn the terms you should know as a Payphone Service Provider
By Lesley Graybeal Whether you are a Payphone Service Provider or other telecommunications business, the pay telephone industry uses a wide range of acronyms and specialized vocabulary to describe everyday operations. The pay telephone industry also includes a number of parties, including communication networks and private companies, that need to be able to understand what services and new technologies are being offered and how they can streamline pay telephone business operations. An explanation of key terms is essential to get started in the industry from any angle.

Alternate Operator Services

Alternate Operator Services are private companies that provide telecommunications service for pay phones as an alternative to the local communications network line. Alternate Operator Services may be used to provide particular services not available from a local provider, such as language translation and other operator services.
Try:  Payphone.com provides a concise definition of Alternate Operator Services in its pay phone glossary.

Card reader

A card reader can be used on a pay telephone either to accept major credit cards or to utilize smart card technology for the use of prepaid phone cards. Many pay telephones are beginning to employ card readers in addition to or instead of coin operation, and card readers are usually combined with other forms of telephony technology to create "smart" pay telephones.
Try:  Read a definition of the card reader option from the American Public Communications Council.

Public Access Line, PAL

A Public Access Line, or PAL, is the term used to describe the type of telecommunications connection used by most standard pay phones. A PAL is typically served by a local telecommunications company and connected by hard wired access points in telephone booths.
Try:  Verizon, one telecommunications provider, offers a definition and explanation of Public Access Line services and what they entail.

Dial-around

Dial-around services are offered by telecommunications companies not affiliated with a particular pay telephone, so that customers may use a specific call service by dialing the company's dial-around number. Dial-around compensation is used by dial-around service providers to reimburse the pay telephone operator for the cost of the call, typically at a rate of around 24 cents per call.
Try:  Read more about dial-around services from ABTolls.

Payphone Service Provider, PSP

A Payphone Service Provider, or PSP, is the operator of a given pay telephone or series of telephone booths. Payphone Service Providers can be large telecommunications companies that install and maintain their own pay telephone booths, or private companies that subscribe to a local or alternate telecommunications service.
Try:  The State of Delaware provides one definition of a Payphone Service Provider for legal purposes.

Station Message Detail Recording, SMDR

Station Message Detail Recording, or SMDR, is a feature employed by many "smart" telephones that enables pay phone operators to obtain a report of all phone calls made, with identifying information for callers. SMDR can be built into a "smart" telephone, or added to any pay telephone by installing a message detail recording device.
Try:  Carroll Communications provides more information on Station Message Detail Recording and how recording devices are used.