(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...FlyerPlanterboxes!
Today’s update was spotted by Carl W. Heindl and featured by Blog TO before I could get it up on here! Neat!
I installed this planter last weekend and it is still going strong (at least at the time of this writing) and is probably pleased with all the rain we’ve been getting lately!
You might notice that even though the box is empty of papers, the advertisement on the front of the box is up to date. Maybe the planter box will be noticed whenever someone comes around to update the ad? I wonder if the box operators in the GTA have a similar deal running as the payphones operators in NYC. Apparently, NY payphones don’t make any money as payphones- their primary value is as a streetlevel advertising platform- a special platform that skirts normal regulations for installing street level advertising. I’m told that they’re even installing more payphones in NYC, even though ubiquitous cell phones are putting the payphone very much out of business.
You know what I’d like to see? If they’re going to maintain, and even grow, the network of payphones as an adverting-revenue generating platform, then they should make all local calls free. That is the old “Contract” of advertising, after all: We shouldn’t have to be exposed to your damn ads if you’re not going to give us something back in return. And how great would it be to know that whenever you hit NYC, getting in contact with the person you’re staying with is as close as the nearest payphone? It would be a great thing for tourists trying to avoid steep roaming charges. As a non-cellphone owner I would LOVE it. And it’s good for locals too. Cell’s dead? PayFreePhone. Lose your cell, need to call your moms? FreePhone. Bars closed, and you’re out on the streets drunk, hungry, and in need a Taxi? Dial “CAB” at the nearest FreePhone and be connected to the nearest cab dispatcher. Dial “INFO” to be connected to a tourism help desk. The possibilities are exciting and immeasurable.
Lets use this incredible, pre-existing infrastructure for something more than advertising.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
But if the pay phones are free, then the cell phone companies will start losing money! Conundrum.
Hypothetically, what would it take to disconnect a phone from its box? Cordless payphones seem like a logical technological leap into the future.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I hear yuh. When my family and I moved out west from Hamilton, it was very difficult to find a payphone anywhere, especially in the small towns and some parts of the mountains we couldn’t get cell phone service.
I say keep the public telephone going. You never know if you may be in a position where your cell phone batteries run out. Also helps tourists, as well.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I love what you’re doing with the news boxes. I picked up your article from one of my followers on Twitter. Quite imaginative. Thought I’d do some posting on it this week on my blog.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:04 pm
[...] all that still potentially useful infrastructure completely torn out from the streets. As I wrote back in May: “Apparently, NY payphones don’t make any money as payphones- their primary value is as a [...]
November 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
[...] that I truly and deeply believe that this is a very good idea. I first wrote about it back in May: “Apparently, NY payphones don’t make any money as payphones- their primary value is as a [...]