Playing with payphones

Old phone booths are fun for a new game. They still help people, and you can make free calls.

Published 11 June 2026 108 words
SOCIETY A1
Playing with payphones

Some people play a game called PayphoneGo. They visit old phone booths, like the orange ones. When they call a special number from a phone booth, they get points. They can also leave a message for others.

There are many phone booths in Australia. The game helps people explore the country and see new places. The person who made the game wants people to go outside and play in the real world. They like that the game has no ads.

Now, you can make free calls from many phone booths in Australia. This helps people who need it, like for emergency calls. Some phone booths also have free internet. People are still using them for important calls.

Vocabulary

phone booths — Small public places with a telephone inside.
explore — To travel around a place to learn about it.
emergency calls — Calls made when there is danger or something bad happens.
public service — A service that is available to everyone, like phones or transport.
internet — A global system that connects computers and allows communication.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is the name of the game mentioned in the story?
  2. Why do some people think phone booths are still important today?
  3. What can people do when they play the game PayphoneGo?

Based on an article from The Guardian.

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