New York City will launch a pilot program in which it will replace pay phones throughout the city with touch-screen like tablets. The program is scheduled to begin in May and will specifically target 250 of the city's 12,800 public pay phones to be replaced by the touch-screen kiosks. The kiosks will allow users to access local information in 10 different languages, according to Information Week.

The 32-inch touch-screen systems, which are made by City 24/7, will provide access to NYC 311- a website that supplies city information and government services. The kiosks will be free to access and will allow users to retrieve information about local restaurants, nearby stores, real-time transit updates and tourist attractions. The tablet is expected to generate revenue through local advertising.

The city eventually hopes to turn the booths into Wi-Fi hot spots and to include other services such as Skype and e-mail access, though these services are not expected to be made available during the pilot program. The tablets will also sport a dust-proof and waterproof screen so they can be cleaned with a jet hose, dismissing sanitation concerns.

The smart booths are the latest in a series of tech modernization initiatives undertaken by the city and they could completely replace all of the city's outdoor pay phones, whose contract expires in October 2014.

Advertising New York Marketing Advertising