Boingo Aims To Make Subways More Sponsorable

It may not quite be the panacea cities need to solve major budget woes, but it seems that cities like New York will soon at least be able to monetize public wifi in more places. Boingo Wireless, a provider of wifi services in public places, has signed a groundbreaking sponsorship deal with Google Offers to support free Wi-Fi access across New York City throughout the Summer. The partnership which will make wifi free and available in places like parks and subway stations is part of Boingo's broader ambitions to offer wifi at all 270+ New York subway stations in the next five years, creating a sponsorship network that it says will let marketers reach the subway system’s more than 1.6 billion annual passengers.

Starting today, people can access Wi-Fi hotspots for free in select New York City subway stations and at Boingo hotzones across Manhattan, courtesy of Google Offers—the search giant's discounted deals offering.

“Since launching Google Offers in NYC a year ago, we’ve worked with hundreds of local businesses to bring great, personalized deals to New Yorkers who want to make the most of their city, ” said Cliff Hopkins, director of marketing, Google Offers. “We’re excited to bring free Wi-Fi to subway stations and Boingo hotzones in Manhattan. People can surf the Internet, or discover great local deals from Google Offers, while they’re waiting at the subway platform or enjoying summer in the Big Apple.”

“Google Offers and Boingo want to help New Yorkers get to the fun part faster, whether that is an amazing deal on dinner and a movie, or a quality Wi-Fi connection to their email or the latest viral video,” said Dawn Callahan, vice president of consumer marketing for Boingo Wireless. “Free Wi-Fi sponsored by Google Offers makes it easy for everyone to get their Internet on this summer via Boingo’s network across Manhattan.”

Google Offers is the first sponsor of Boingo Wi-Fi in New York subway stations.

“We’re glad our riders will be able to access free Wi-Fi this summer in six subway stations to stay connected while they’re underground,” said MTA director of strategic initiatives Jerome Page. “Reliable Wi-Fi is an important benefit for straphangers in New York City subway stations.”

New Yorkers using the complimentary Wi-Fi services can check out deals from local businesses from Google Offers when they connect at Boingo hotzones throughout the city and at the following subway stations: