Last year, AT&T put a number of solar charging stations around New York State. These Street Charge stations harness the power of the sun so that cell phone users can plug in their phones, recharge their batteries, and continue taking selfies and sending texts.
This month, AT&T added 45 new Street Charge stations to New York . This almost doubles the amount that the cell phone giant put in in 2013. They will be put in at parks, beaches, and other high-traffic locations in New York. The company has made the charging stations more weather resistant and sturdier than the previous models.
The solar charging stations are available at five locations in New York: Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. For a complete list of locations or map of the stations, check AT&T’s official website.
AT&T’s Street Charge is a pilot program that seeks to eventually bring in as many as 242 charging stations over the years. The goal is to allow people to charge their cell phones whether they are in the park, at the beach, or at other various outdoor places where they normally would not be able to charge a phone. Although the solar charging stations are powered by sunlight, even during the night people will be able to charge their phones. This is due to the internal batteries in the street charge stations, which take in and capture the sun’s energy during the day.
The program is a direct response to the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, which rocked the area and left many people without electricity and without the use of their cellphones. However, the stations will only be in NY until September, so if you’re in the state try to use them before they disappear!
Do you think that these stations are a good idea? Would you use them if they were placed in your state? Or have you used them before? Let us know!
This is a great idea and an excellent advertising/marketing strategy…until AT&T decides to (if they havent already) install software in the charging device that scans your phone for personal information and uses it without your knowledge/consent. They will probably provide the findings to the NSA, sell it to other big corps for further tactical marketing and again you’ll be up the creek because you didn’t read the fine print.