Google may be one of the many companies looking to make Wi-Fi hotspots in New York City out of phone booths.
The project was discussed at an informational meeting in May, which was attended by the search giant, along with Time Warner Cable, Samsung, Cisco, and Verizon, according to CNET. The meeting was reported by Bloomberg on Monday.
Wi-Fi access is already a goal for Google, as the company is currently working on Fiber, a project aimed at providing Internet users with fast broadband speeds. Loon is another initiative of the company, focusing on using giant Wi-Fi balloons to bring connectivity at a high altitude to rural areas.
Google was among the 60 companies that attended the meeting, which centered on replacing or updating as many as 10,000 pay phones around New York. Monday was the deadline for the companies to send in their "requests for proposals" (RFP). Google did not comment about its involvement in the meeting or its plans for the project, PCWorld reported.
Over 7,000 pay phone sites are currently spread out across the five boroughs of the city, and advertising is featured on the sides of close to 4,000 of them. Revenue from ads will be shared between the winning bidder and the city, which says it will pay the bidder at least $17.5 million in compensation.
The project would result in free Wi-Fi being provided for at least 85 feet around each site with advertising, PCWorld reported. People would also be able to make free 911 emergency and 311 information calls.
Applicants are encouraged to offer different features for the hotspots, such as cellphone charging stations, text messaging, free short local calls, touchscreens for business and information transactions, and built-in sensors for keeping track of the local environment.
