Google and a number of partner companies may be looking to transform New York City pay phones into Wi-Fi hotspots, according to a report from Bloomberg.
New York is accepting proposals from interested parties willing to install, operate and maintain up to 10,000 “Public Communications Structures providing advertising, Wi-Fi, and phone service in all five boroughs.”
The companies would be able to charge for phone service but the city has mandated that Internet service would need to be provided at the structures free of charge.
Calls to 311 and 911 would also have to be provided free of charge.
Bloomberg reports that Cisco, IBM, and Samsung were also in attendance at a meeting back in May where the project was discussed.
All bids for the project are due today.