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Today, the NY Times NY Region section has a story updating the status of the cellphone-service-in-the-subways story. Four bids were submitted back in January, after the MTA asked for bids in August 2005 (and the service providers asked for an extension in December, but who's keeping track), and at least one bidder was asked to submit a revised bid. American Tower's CEO James D. Taiclet wouldn't give details of the revised bid, lest competitors be tipped off, but did say this:
"This really hasn't been done in the U.S. on this wide a scale. It's very complex technically, very expensive, large capital expenditures. You've got multiple parties, the operator of the system, the carriers, and the MTA, all of whose interests ultimately have to be aligned to make it successful."No kidding - the MTA has enough challenges, ensuring that daily service goes smoothly. Installing a wireless system underground in 227 stations is very daunting. But someone special makes a guest appearance in the bidding speculation: Former senator Alphonse D'Amato, who has been hired as a consultant by one of the bidders, Transit Wireless. Transit Wireless emphasizes that D'Amato is only a consultant, and not a lobbyist - even though he is good friends with MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow.
The MTA is only interested in wiring stations, not the tunnels, which turned off some potential bidders. But Taiclet told the Times that even wiring the stations would create competitive advantages for some providers ("Our service reaches the subway...the others don't") and that the short periods on the phone, checking email, messaging, etc., at stations would add up. We bet by the time the MTA is ready to award the job, cellphones will be passe and people will communicate via ESP.
Photograph of man scrolling through his cellphone's menus from VincenzoF on Flickr
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Seriously? In the era of cell phone triggered terrorist bombs do we need this? Read a book on the subway.
Here is the link to the Times article - how hard did you guys look?
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/nyregion/09cell.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I swear, I did look and didn't see it. Then I searched the Times site with "subway" and then "cellphone" and then "William Neuman" and nada. So, thank you, mgp.
The last time I was in DC I was on the subway there and I was shocked to find my cell phone ringing. Mind you the DC subway is deeper than NYC for the most part, so this was very unexpected.
As for NYC it is just going to be another annoying thing - like when the trains emerge onto the Manhattan Bridge and straphangers make quick calls before the train enters the tunnel on the other side. We don't need more yappers underground, the ones on the elevated sections of the subway are enough.
on the one hand, this is going to suck really fucking hard.
on the other, uh...mundane telephone conversation eavesdropping will become a constant fact of life.
hmmm, how bad is it on busses most of the time?
you hear "I'm on the bus" instead of "I'm on the train"
>>>We bet by the time the MTA is ready to award the job, cellphones will be passe and people will communicate via ESP
Your mouth to God's ear.
www.forgotten-ny.com
I really, really wish they wouldn't do this. People seriously can't control their volume in this city - this simply provides another opportunity for them to be assholes.
As the Onion once said, "If they lift the ban on cell-phone use, they better lift the ban on passengers beating the shit out of each other, too."
I will probably kill about a thousand people during my commute the first day this goes into effect.
Shouldn't they work on making the trains run when it rains before getting to this?
Please, dear Lord, no. Please, please, I beg of you, no!
I disagree with most of you. This is going to be amazing when the L refuses to run in the morning, the crowd piles up at the Lorimer stop, and I have to call a client or boss to give a heads up that I'm going to be late. Because you know the minute you go above ground to do it, the train arrives.
This is also good for girls like me who might feel unsafe in a particular situation.
Whoever thinks this is a good idea has never ridden a bus. Try 20 minutes in front of some loud-volumed conversation that's stultifyingly dull, horribly personal, incredibly pretentious, or all of the above. That's what I did on my way home Tuesday! I swear, when the subway is wired is when I leave NYC.
Ugh. Subways will be full of phones chirping with ghetto people yelling when using phone walkie talkies.
good point, so there. using that payphone on the subway plaform is far too complicated.
The burdens far outweight the benefits, if you ask me. People are definitely not going to use their phones solely to check in at work or call 311/911. 99% of the conversations will be entirely unnecessary. I'm usually not a ninny about these kinds of things (in fact, I think a cell phone ban in a store/restaurant is pretty obnoxious), but I've got to take a stand on the subway thing.
I don't care what the benefits might be, nobody in their right mind should want this.
Cell phone jammers - they're illegal, but not impossible to obtain.
Not to sure what to think about this. .
Anonymass, I will be looking into getting one of them cellphone jammers. To think, The MTA wants to install links underground so all the stupid,moronic, jackasses can yak it up whenever they feel . Did anybody mention the fact that terrist use cellphones to detonate bombs ! Guess it's a dollar first, Ask questions later .
#9, Has a very good point. If this goes into affect you will see someone yammering away on there phone and all of a sudden "Whack" ! They get hit in the head with something hard ! *sighs* Can't wait for that day to come .
i don't think service below ground is necessary. accoustics on platforms are horrendous, and i don't want to listen to 100 riders' conversations on the way home. i don't think the convenience or possible benefits are worth the cost. i do agree it would be nice to be able to call or txt someone when stranded on a platform, but that doesn't happen all that often.
Sure xnxox, what was I thinking?! Because Verizon does a stellar job in maintaining subway pay phones, not to mention the nastiness factor. Plus, if there IS a crowd waiting for an absent rush hour train it's not like there's 20 people already waiting.
No, no, no, and more no. For all of the reasons listed above.