In 2011 the average new yorker spent 31.27 minutes commuting a day. For those living in boroughs that time was extended to an hour or more and commuters spent much of that subway ride underground, unable to do work in an internet dead zone.
Now New Yorkers are able to continue browsing the web with no interruptions. On Monday, June 25th Google Offers began sponsoring more than 200 free Boingo Wireless-powered WiFi hotspots in six subway stations through out Manhattan. The program will last until September 7th and representatives from Google Offers and Boingo Wireless, the internet provider, have been handing out cards near each of the locations informing commuters about the free Wifi they now have access to.
Stations hosting Wifi are:
1. A/C/E at 8th avenue station
2. A/C/E at 14th street station
3. F/M at 6th Avenue station
4. F/M at 14th street station
5. L at 6th Avenue station
6. L at 14thstreet station
Once a user enables Wifi on a smartphone and picks the Boingo network, a page will pop up with the option to subscribe to Google Offers.
In order to use the Boingo network in each of these stations users must first enable Wifi on their phone, computer or tablet and then go through a pop-up which prompts them to subscribe to Google Offers, a service which provides localized deals on opening restaurants, outdoor adventures, clothing and etc.
People who sign up for offers at the SoHo hotspots will receive NYC Downtown offers. Those near Madison Square Garden will receive NYC Midtown offers.
According to Adweek magazine, this is a brand-awareness campaign for Google. But Boingo they’re using it as a pilot to test out its sponsor- driven Wifi initiative. “The goal is, by time this runs out, to have another advertiser lined up,” said Christian Gunning, Boingo’s director of corporate communications. By the end of the year Boingo plans to add 30 more New York City hotspots with brand exclusive network-wide sponsorships for each, said Gunning.
