# Payphone Radio — Audio through NYC Payphones

> Audio archive of calls and sounds from New York City payphones. (iPhone/iPad app by Paul Henshaw.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payphone-radio/id1617538265 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Paul Henshaw](https://appshunter.io/developer/1407529606)
- Category: Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 29 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2022-08-04
- Data updated: 2026-06-06
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payphone-radio/id1617538265/reviews.md

## What is Payphone Radio?

Payphone Radio is an online radio stream comprising hundreds of calls made
from New York City public pay telephones. Most of the audio is spoken
commentary by Mark Thomas, but other sounds float through as well.

Other audio includes some of the pre-recorded messages heard when calling
disconnected payphones. There are also sounds of musicians performing in
the New York City subway system, recorded using nearby subway payphones.

Virtually all of New York City's payphones are gone. On account of that
inevitable reality Payphone Radio, containing 1600 calls and over 63 hours
of content recorded from 2010 until the pandemic struck in 2020, is not
expected to update with new content.

This project had many aims but keeping the grey, monochrome, sometimes
poor-quality sound world of the public pay telephone alive for posterity
was high among them.

Payphone Radio is a spinoff of The Payphone Project, the Internet's
original payphone website, online since 1995. The Payphone Project has
been featured by The New York Times, CBS Sunday Morning, LA
Times and numerous other media outlets.

## Key features

- Hundreds of NYC payphone calls
- Spoken commentary
- Pre-recorded payphone messages
- Subway musician recordings
- Archive of 1600 calls
- Over 63 hours of content


## Frequently asked questions about Payphone Radio

### What is Payphone Radio?

Payphone Radio is an audio stream featuring hundreds of calls and sounds recorded from New York City public pay telephones between 2010 and 2020. It aims to preserve the unique audio world of these payphones for posterity.

### What kind of audio can I expect on Payphone Radio?

You can expect spoken commentary, pre-recorded messages from disconnected payphones, and recordings of musicians performing in the NYC subway system, all captured using nearby payphones.

### Is Payphone Radio updated with new content?

No, Payphone Radio is not expected to update with new content. The project captured over 63 hours of audio from 2010 until the pandemic in 2020, and most NYC payphones are now gone.

### What is the age rating for Payphone Radio?

Payphone Radio has an age rating of 17+. This is likely due to the nature of some spoken commentary or potentially mature themes that may be present in the audio.

### On what devices can I use Payphone Radio?

Payphone Radio is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to be accessible on Apple's mobile and tablet devices.

### How much does Payphone Radio cost?

Payphone Radio is completely free to download and use. There are no charges associated with accessing its unique audio content.

### Does Payphone Radio have ads?

No, Payphone Radio does not contain advertisements. The app is free and ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted listening experience.

### What is the source of the audio in Payphone Radio?

The audio in Payphone Radio originates from The Payphone Project, an online resource dedicated to payphones that has been active since 1995 and has received media attention.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.0.29 — 2025-07-06

- Bug fix
- Updated menu

### 1.0.26 — 2022-08-04

No release notes.

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## More apps by Paul Henshaw

- [Old Skool Sessions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/old-skool-sessions/id1407529607)
- [Strictly Rockers Reggae Show](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strictly-rockers-reggae-show/id1413896529)
- [EachScape Developer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eachscape-developer/id1472211169)
- [The JB SuperFan App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-jb-superfan-app/id1493135198)

All apps by Paul Henshaw: https://appshunter.io/developer/1407529606

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-06.*