The Ol' Pay Phone Is the New Wi-Fi Hot Spot in NYC
By: Cadie Thompson | Technology Editor, CNBC.com
Next time you need an internet connection in New York City, you may just want to linger around the nearest pay phone.
New York City is decking out pay phone kiosks with Wi-Fi antennas to create free wireless hotspots for the public to use, the city announced Wednesday.
The city is launching the pilot program in all five boroughs. Currently, there are 10 hotspots, but more are planned to be added.
The Wi-Fi signal could reach up to 200 feet around the pay phone and allow unlimited bandwidth and usage.
New York City already offers free Wi-Fi in libraries and in more than 40 parks.
Below are the current locations of hot spots that have already launched. Wi-Fi hot spots in the Bronx and in Stanten Island will launch soon.
Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Heights-Cobble Hill: 545 Albee Square and 2 Smith Street
Queens
- Astoria: 30-94 Steinway Street
Manhattan
- SoHo: 402 West Broadway
- Fur-Flower District: 458 Seventh Avenue
- Theater District-Clinton: 28 West 48th Street
- Grand Central-United Nations: 410 Madison Avenue
- Midtown-Clinton: 1609 Broadway and 1790 Broadway
- Upper West Side: 230 West 95th Street
And you thought you would never use a pay phone again...
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