Efforts to upgrade payphones to operate with the new £1 coin (introduced March 28th 2017) continue at pace, but according to Nimans there is still much work to do.
Nimans, the exclusive UK supplier of Solitaire payphones, is advising resellers that's it's not too late to adapt customers' devices - or upgrade to the latest models.
"Since March last year we have visited sites to update over 2,000 units up and down the UK but we do still believe that many older model Solitaire Payphones (1000, 1100, 3000, 4000, 4000HS, 8000 and 8000HS) need to be replaced with New Solitaire 2000, 6000 and 6000HS supplied New £1 Coin READY," said Solitaire's Managing Director Jeff Wilkes.
"Many other Solitaire Payphones made since 2006 are also out there, not yet updated for the new £1 and indeed would still accept the old circular £1 coin, now no longer legal tender."
All New Solitaire Payphones supplied since January 2016 will accept the revised £1 coin but existing models already on-site will need updating, Jeff points out.
"We estimate that from around 500,000 Solitaire payphones sold in the UK around 50,000 are still in service," he explained. "Some older units will need to be replaced but many others need updating either on-site or returned to us.
"Demand for payphones remains strong in niche areas and the new £1 coin is having a big impact. Hospitals are some of the most popular sites just now and help is available for resellers if needed.
"As part of the New £1 update project we have travelled from Tresco on the Scilly Isles , to Northumberland, West Wales, Norwich and Bexhill and all points of the compass in between. Lots of progress has been made but there's still work to do."
The arrival of a new 'super secure' £1 coin on March 28th last year had a significant impact on payphones across the country - combined with the end of legal tender status for the original round pound in October.
An estimated one in 30 old £1 coins were fake so the Royal Mint created a new 12 sided version hailed as the most secure in the world.