AT&T bringing free WiFi to NYC parks

AT&T's reputation in the more tech savvy hubs of America has taken a beating since the introduction of the iPhone. Cities which generate a lot of smartphone traffic like San Francisco and New York have been cities where AT&T is notorious for having dropped calls and poor service. It looks like AT&T is trying to appease customers in NYC by offering free WiFi in parks across the city.

This morning, NYC Mayor Bloomberg and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson announced the deal, which will have AT&T offering free WiFi in 26 locations in 20 parks throughout the 5 boroughs. This comes after NYC had shut down its own initiative to offer free WiFi in 10 parks which ran from 2004 to 2009. The deal with AT&T will span 5 years.

Starting today, service will be available in Manhattan at Battery Bosque in Battery Park, at the Thomas Jefferson Park rec center in East Harlem, and at the north-end playground in Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx. Throughout the summer, the other 23 locations will come to:

Bronx: Bronx River Park and Devoe Park Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Herbert Von King Park, McCarren Park and Prospect Park Manhattan: Central Park (multiple locations), the High Line, Holcombe Rucker Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park Queens: Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and MacDonald Park Staten Island: Clove Lake Park and South Beach

source: NYC Blue Room via Venture Beat