CBS Offers Free Wi-Fi In New York City
CBS Corporation just made New York a better bargain for tourists and residents alike by offering free Wi-Fi in Midtown Manhattan.
Last month CBS announced the creation of the "CBS Mobile Zone," a wireless high-speed network that enables New Yorkers with Wi-Fi-enabled cell phones, laptops or other devices, to access the Internet for free, and make VOIP calls.
The "CBS Mobile Zone" is an ad-supported service that directs users to a homepage that includes breaking local and national news, sports highlights, weather reports, and the ability to search for nearby restaurants, shops and entertainment with community reviews. CBS, in conjunction with MTA, has embedded transmitters in CBS posters in the area as well as in MTA-owned panels located above subway stations.
The Wi-Fi HotZone covers more than 20 city blocks from Times Square to Central Park South and from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue. It is scheduled to be 6-month pilot program.
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4 Comments
Very nice! The University of Toronto has a Wi-Fi area as well, although it’s nowhere near that big! It pretty much only works for about 3 or 4 blocks and then only because blocks are very small and sidewalks are close to buildings.
Only a few years ago every major city government said they wanted to have free wi-fi covering the city. Unfortunately, because it was so cost-prohibitive, it looks like is never going to happen so now private companies and are coming up with ad-sponsored free wi-fi as well as smaller entities, like universities.
It’s great to see that U. of Toronto offers it on campus. If I had that when I was in school I would never had got any homework done!
Yeah, it’s sometimes difficult to pay attention in class with so many distractions, but the benefits of being able to sit down outside a building on a bench during a nice day and read lecture notes from a laptop kinda balances it out.
Everytime I’m in New York I check openwifinyc.com for a nearby free wifi hotspot. They only list free wifi and their directory is fairly up to date.