Wireless access in New York City’s subway system has so far been limited, at best: two GSM carriers, one WiFi provider and six stations does not a full network make. Coverage is getting much wider, however, as Transit Wireless just flicked on access in 30 extra stations. While cellular service with this batch is still limited to AT&T and T-Mobile for now, it reaches a much wider swath of Manhattan that includes Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Natural History. Those on CDMA carriers also won’t be left hanging for long — both Sprint and Verizon have nearly finished making deals to join the project, with Sprint aiming for service later this year. Although the deployment still leaves big holes in carrier support and geographic reach, it’s a big leap for travelers with an urge to stay online while underground.

[Image credit: Retromoderns, Flickr]

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Wireless, Networking, Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile

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Via: The Verge

Source: Governor Cuomo

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NYC subway wireless goes live in 30 stations, Sprint and Verizon sign on soon

Wireless access in New York City’s subway system has so far been limited, at best: two GSM carriers, one WiFi provider and six stations does not a full network make. Coverage is getting much wider, however, as Transit Wireless just flicked on access in 30 extra stations. While cellular service with this batch is still limited to AT&T and T-Mobile for now, it reaches a much wider swath of Manhattan that includes Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Natural History. Those on CDMA carriers also won’t be left hanging for long — both Sprint and Verizon have nearly finished making deals to join the project, with Sprint aiming for service later this year. Although the deployment still leaves big holes in carrier support and geographic reach, it’s a big leap for travelers with an urge to stay online while underground.

[Image credit: Retromoderns, Flickr]

Update: Verizon now tells us that it’s also aiming for service by the end of the year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Wireless, Networking, Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile

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Via: The Verge

Source: Governor Cuomo

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NYC subway wireless goes live in 30 stations, Sprint and Verizon signing on soon (updated)

Train stations deep indoors and underground rarely make for the best places to hit up a smartphone for data, yet they’re where a lot of Tokyo residents have to spend their time. Accordingly, it only makes sense that one of the city’s chief mass transit providers, Tokyo Metro, would outfit as many of its stations as possible with free WiFi. Expanding on deployments that started in February, every station that Tokyo Metro directly manages now lets travelers hop on WiFi, 15 minutes at a time; Android and iOS users can load up a Manta app to plan their trips and cram in some reading or video in while waiting for the next ride. Whether or not the current arrangement lasts is another matter. The WiFi grid as it exists will continue until the end of July, at which point the network will evolve depending on real-world use. The rollout still won’t cover significant stretches of Tokyo, if it holds, but those who want their Google+ on the Ginza line will be happy.

[Thanks, @colm_smyth; image credit: Dick Thomas Johnson, Flickr]

Filed under: Transportation, Networking

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Source: Nikkei BP (translated)

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Tokyo Metro finishes rolling out WiFi at its train stations

Replacing those unused telephones that still dot the streets of NYC with high-tech kiosks is just the start. Control Group, one of the companies looking to Reinvent Payphones, has been hired by the MTA to bring its touchscreen and app-driven vision to the New York City Subway system. All told, 90 of 47-inch panels will be installed in stops from Grand Central to Bedford primarily near booths, but also on the platforms themselves. At least initially the rugged displays will primarily be used to feed information about delays and outages and, of course, serve up ads. Eventually, the stainless steel-encased kiosk will be able to run apps approved by the MTA, but the star of the show will be the navigation system that offers a mastery of New York public transportation that Google could only dream of. Sadly there’s no concrete timeline for the rollout, we’ll just have to keep an eye on the platform. There’s one more image waiting after the break for the truly curious.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: Fast Company, Control Group

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NYC MTA to install 90 futuristic touchscreen kiosks across the subway

Despite New York City virtually revolving around its mass transit system, local subway riders haven’t had a way to check the next arrival in real-time, even though some smaller cities already take live transit details for granted. At least some harried commuters can assuage their minds now that the MTA has posted its Subway Time app for iOS users. The title does exactly what it says on the tin, taking advantage of MTA’s signalling installations on the 1 through 6 lines (and the 42nd Street Shuttle) to determine train arrival times down to the minute. Subway Time won’t satisfy certain travelers as-is: it doesn’t provide directions, and the earliest expansion to additional routes won’t happen until the L line’s information is linked up in six to 12 months. Passengers running Android and Windows Phone will likewise have to wait for outside developers to finish their own projects. For those of us living in the right areas, however, Subway Time might take away some uncertainty — even if it’s just to confirm that we’ll be late.

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation

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Via: Wall Street Journal

Source: App Store

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MTA app for iPhone offers New Yorkers real-time subway arrivals, a small dose of relief