July 06, 2006

Battery Park gets wi-fi today, Central Park in August

Wi-Fi Salon, the company under contract to provide free wi-fi in 10 city parks will turn on the first location today -- from the Battery Gardens restaurant to the Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park -- and Central Park is now scheduled to get the service in August, according to the New York Times.

This past weekend, Newsday reported it would be July.

Originally it was set for October 2005.

And here's another interesting note, when the Daily News first wrote about WiFi Salon's plans in September 2005, it said wi-fi "is already running in Battery Park, near the Battery Gardens restaurant."

The deal is moving ahead now that WiFi Salon has signed with Nokia to provide the service, although both companies refused to disclose the terms of their agreement to the New York Times.

If the Central Park Conservancy approves the plan, the city's primary green space will get the wi-fi in eight locations: Sheep Meadow, Summerstage, the Boathouse, Delacorte Theater, the Dairy, the zoo, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center and the Pinetum.

Brooklyn's Prospect Park would get two hot spots, at the BoatHouse and the Picnic House, while one spot each would come to the remaining parks: Washington Square park, Union Sqaure Park, Riverside Park at the Boat Basin/79th Street Cafe, the Pelham Bay Park Golf Course, the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course and at the concessions at Orchard Beach.

When users connect to the WiFiSalon/Nokia service, they'll see an initial portal with ads for Nokia and local advertisers, as well as history about the park, according to the Times. A press release from the companies also says (unidentified) local media partners this summer will "provide complimentary mobile versions of their content to Nokia devices with Wi-Fi connectivity used in the parks."

Before Wi-Fi Salon came on the scene, free wireless has been available in a number of other city parks and public spaces, including Bryant Park and eight downtown locations, including City Hall Park, the Winter Gardens, Stone Street and the South Street Seaport.

Earlier: Free Central Park wi-fi still in the works
Free wireless at Central Park delayed at least to July
Free wi-fi delayed for Central Park
Free wi-fi hotspots scheduled for Central Park

July 6, 2006 08:00 AM in Cheap Stuff, Downtown, Techology, Upper East Side, Upper West Side

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