Phone Booths Go Digital

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This summer we wrote about a test run converting old pay phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots. Now, it seems New York City is going another route. From GigaOm

Starting today, New York City is officially launching a plan to transform pay phones into giant touch screens that provide city information, emergency broadcasts and local business deals.

The platforms are run as a partnership between New York City and two companies, Cisco and City 24/7. The smart screens were tested in a pilot project for a while but now they are officially live across the city, including at 12th & Broadway and 3rd Ave & 10th street. Soon, there will be 250 of the newfangled devices in all five city boroughs. “We’ll average a couple of installs per day. With the holidays approaching, they won’t all be in for a couple of months,” said City 24/7 by email.

They’ll offer coupons, directions, and an emergency system.

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