0Dial Public Phones

0Dial Communications Foundation Canada works with volunteers and Not-For-Profit organizations to install non-payphones which can call anywhere in Canada, USA, Mexico, and others for free.
We also run:

• An incoming voicemail, anyone can create an incoming extension and voicemail box from any 0Dial public phone meaning individuals have a meaningful point of contact, for free.
• Free public phone chargers where individuals can use wireless charging or their own USB-C cable to charge their phone.

We continue to innovate with how far we can push a traditional analogue phone, including features like:

• "hold assist" allowing people to have the phone call them back when an agent finally picks up on the other end. Hold times for government agencies and banks can exceed 3 hours at times, forcing someone to wait listening to hold music the whole time.
• Outbound call recording, allowing people to record any call they want and store the recording in their voicemail box. This can be especially useful for domestic situations, parole situations, and so much more.
• Date and Time service, allowing someone to set their watch accurately.
• Games, played on the phone keypad. Like Simon.
• Local services directory allowing speed dialling to local shelters, food banks, CRA reporting lines, libraries, etc.

We run these phones using Voice over IP technology via the internet, a host site supplies the internet connection, and 0Dial covers the minimal ongoing costs of service.

Each phone costs about $500 in equipment. (plus shipping)

We as a society have seemingly accepted that if someone is unable to afford a phone plan, they miss out. Missing out can be: Missing job offers, being unable to call government services, being unable to connect with family and friends.

Payphones might have disappeared, but those who need them have not.

Anyone who needs to make a phone call and does not have a working cellphone.

According to " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Statistics Canada 0.4% of Canadian households do not have an active cellphone or landline. At 2.46 people per household, around 167,000 people in Canada do not have access to a telephone. This is NOT an insignificant number of Canadians.

That figure doesn't even include those who's phone is dead or broken temporarily.