Good Riddance Payphones: NYC's Free Gigabit Wi-Fi Kiosks Go Live (networkworld.com)

alphadogg writes: New York City on Thursday officially launched its payphone booth replacements: shiny new 9-foot-plus-high kiosks, dubbed Links, that offer free Gigabit-speed Wi-Fi as well as free domestic VoIP calls via a tablet app. Mayor Bill de Blasio, joined by vendor partners such as Qualcomm and NYC Department of IT and Telecommunications reps, showed off the first operating LinkNYC kiosks, just over a dozen of which are spread across 3rd Avenue for starters. The spacing of the hotspots will enable users to stay connected as they walk down the street. More than 500 of the advertising-supported kiosks are slated to be installed by mid-year, with promises of secure and private connectivity.

Comments

private

[arth1]

with promises of secure and private connectivity.

For values of "private" where you have to register with an e-mail address and every connection you make is linked to this account, and every web page you browse to is logged.

Re:And how do I make a call?

[BlacKSacrificE]

From TFA.

The kiosks, in addition to supporting encrypted Wi-Fi connectivity for hundreds of HotSpot 2.0-enabled devices within 150 feet of them, will each include two USB charging ports, a red 911 button to contact emergency services

a red 911 button to contact emergency services

Don't you think that just maybe a little detail like that might have been covered..?

Re:Just what the world needs... More advertisement

[Tx]

The ads play on big screens on the sides of the kiosk, as far as I can discern, you wouldn't even see them while making a call. They're just digital billboard space for passing pedestrians.