The pay phone is entering the 21st Century. New York City, in conjunction with two companies—Cisco and City 24/7—is installing 250 new touchscreen devices into its existing pay phone booths. The 32-inch screens will provide emergency broadcasts, city information and even daily deals. In fact, a few of the terminals have already been updated.

“Right now our plan is to have 10 touch screens around Union Square in the coming weeks, adding a few more at a time as we go along,” Tom Touchet, CEO of City 24/7, told NBC.

According to Touchet, about 215 of the devices will be placed in Manhattan, with the remainder spread among the city’s outer boroughs. Each screen will offer users city information that is specific to the location of each booth. Information will include alerts such relating to safety and commuter info, as well as daily deals for stores in the area of the booth. Content will also be available in multiple languages.

“We want to provide the what, when and where to the user,” Touchet said, adding New Yorkers will be able to access 16 different apps on the touch screen to help them navigate their way around the city.
City24/7 is so confident in the project is plans to launch the service in more than a dozen U.S. and foreign cities, including Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington in the U.S.

[Image Via littleny/Shutterstock]

Samantha Lile

Samantha Lile is a 2002 Missouri State University graduate of journalism and mass media. She has served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers throughout her journalism career. She made the leap into writing full-time after working for a major financial institution since 2000.

Because of her banking background, Samantha is knowledgeable in finance reporting, but is also strong in commentaries, personal profiles, youth studies, horticulture, history and entertainment-related works.

Samantha lives in Ozark, Mo. with her husband of nine years, four dogs and two cats.

More Posts