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New York To Get Free Wi-Fi Network Via Livery Cabs

Posted by kdawson on from the don't-drive-like-my-brother dept.

AndyAndyAndyAndy writes "NYC may finally have a viable plan for free, ad-supported public Wi-Fi service. A company named LimoRes Car & Limo plans to roll out 1,000 cars with transmitters by the fall, and 20,000 by 2011, providing in-car Wi-Fi and externally with a radius of 200 feet. Each car will be able to support up to 16 separate connections. It may be a long shot to say this will provide complete coverage in Manhattan, but if each cab company in New York got onboard... although the brief article notes that the tougher regulation environment for taxicabs means that Wi-Fi won't be coming to Yellow Cabs any time soon."

4 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm... by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So, you will have a fleeting connection as the cab whips by, dropping of a fare outside your $2000 a month NYC hovel...

    No, but seriously, educate me: how will someone maintain a connection when the access point is always moving?

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  2. A moving WifI.... by Kitkoan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Unless they plan on parking the cars a lot, I don't see how this can be useful. Once the car goes down the block it will be out of range and the connection will drop. Won't matter if another one is behind it since it won't be the same connection so no auto-reconnect either.

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    1. Re:A moving WifI.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      You missed the point. This is for the people riding inside the taxi. Considering the cost of a vehicle and its upkeep, adding a wireless router is a drop in the bucket. I'd certainly choose the taxi with wifi if it was an option, even for a 10 minute ride. That way I can stay on top of the latest /. stories.

    2. Re:A moving WifI.... by JSBiff · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "...and you've just gotten the government to subsidize premium wifi for your customers."

      There, fixed it for you. The only thing better than getting the government to provide a free service to your customers is to get the government to provide a free service to [b]you[/b] that you turn around and charge your customers $25/hr for. I mean, these are *limos*. . . you don't think people riding around NYC in limos would pay $25/hr for Wifi in the car? More to the point, you don't think the limo companies wouldn't charge them for it?