Good-Bye Pay Phones, Hello Wi-Fi!

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New York City is in the process of removing pay phones and replacing them with free Wi-Fi kiosks. The program has recently started and will include 7500 kiosks, called Links, throughout the City over the next few years.

The kiosks are being provided by CityBridge through a network called LinkNYC. CityBridge is owned by a group of companies including Qualcomm and Intersection, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the company that owns Google.

The cost of each kiosk to New York City is substantial, even though the kiosks are being donated by CityBridge. The costs include installation and maintenance, as well as providing Internet and electricity to the kiosks. But with the sale of advertising on kiosk screens, New York City plans to profit from the program.

Each kiosk has two high-definition screens to display advertisements and public service announcements. The kiosks provide many free benefits, including high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access, tablets with Internet access, phone calls within the US, emergency phone calls, and USB charging ports. LinkNYC says Wi-Fi from each kiosk covers a range of 150 ft/45.7 m, but reports from users say that the range can be farther.

Wi-Fi speeds are 100 times faster than home networks, according to LinkNYC. Users have been impressed with the speed:

No joke, @LinkNYC is crazy fast. pic.twitter.com/4W6KeRl4s1

— Andrew Love (@andrewtlove) June 15, 2016

[note] See, Do You Feel the Need for Speed? to learn more about testing Internet speed. [/note]

In addition to speed, the LinkNYC Wi-Fi offers security. Each kiosk offers two types of Wi-Fi networks, secured and unsecured. By registering with an email account, a user can get a key to connect to an encrypted Wi-Fi network.

According the LinkNYC, “Your email address will never be sold, or shared with third parties for their own use.” The company’s privacy policy contains more information about data privacy.

[tip] See, How Free Public Wi-Fi May Cost You Dearly for information on the dangers of using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks. [/tip]

Each kiosk has a tablet that runs a secure version of Android to access the Internet, get maps, directions, and information about city services. A phone keypad lets you call US phone numbers for free. Users can press and hold a red button on the kiosk to call 911 emergency services.

Pretty cool being able to use Google maps or Wifi for free at #linknyc spots pic.twitter.com/bC1thx4Ewo

— Elaine Chen (@elainejchen) June 28, 2016

Kiosks will also serve as charging stations, with two USB ports that transmit electricity but not data. A port allows people to listen via headphones for privacy and to block the noises of the city.

Link NYC. Can I help you. #linknyc pic.twitter.com/2UibRwnTc4

— Jean Baranowski (@jeanbaranowski) July 10, 2016

The kiosks are also equipped with cameras that have not yet been activated. These cameras can help monitor traffic flow, pollution levels, crime and suspicious packages.

Using a LinkNYC Kiosk

Whether you live in New York City or will be visiting, you may see a LinkNYC kiosk soon. If you see a payphone being removed in a New York City neighborhood like this, you’ll be seeing a LinkNYC kiosk in its place.

Have you seen an orange box in your neighborhood lately? If so, that means free Wi-Fi is headed your way! pic.twitter.com/qppq8aTwea

— LinkNYC (@LinkNYC) July 8, 2016

You can check out the LinkNYC Map to see where kiosks are now and where they are coming soon.

This video shows you how to connect to a LinkNYC kiosk.

If you’re not in New York City and would like to see LinkNYC come to your town, email the company at [email protected] to invite them over.

The Downside of LinkNYC

While free, citywide Wi-Fi may seem like a dream come true, this program is not without controversy. Some neighbors of the kiosks have complained of the added noise, with people streaming music, videos and TV shows. Other people fear that their privacy will be invaded as the kiosks begin to use cameras that could monitor people as well as traffic and pollution.

Still others have questioned the privacy of data that will be collected by the kiosks. See, The Village Voice, Google Is Transforming NYC’s Payphones Into a ‘Personalized Propaganda Engine’.

Your Thoughts

Do you like the idea of Link kiosks? Which of the free services would you use? Do you wish Link kiosks would come to your hometown? Are you concerned about privacy issues?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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* Pay Phone image (edited) courtesy of Kichigai Mentat via Flickr and Creative Commons

** Get Ready for LinkNYC image by Jim.henderson via Wikipedia and Creative Commonw

*** LinkNYC Kiosk Hello World image courtesy of Scott Beale via Flickr and Creative Commons