Google’s Sidewalk Labs takes control of plan to provide free WiFi to New York

A while back Justin wrote an article about the LinkNYC network that plans on replacing up to 10,000 unused payphone kiosks with WiFi outlets. Each WiFi pillar is called a Link, besides free WiFi it would also serve up free charging. The Link WiFi pillars would be funded entirely through advertising, and thus not cost the good citizens of New York a penny in taxes. It sounds good, right?

So good, in fact, that the Google-backed startup, Sidewalk Labs has led a consortium of investors to acquire Titan and Control Group. The two companies had merged to form a new company called Intersection to supervise the roll-out of LinkNYC, before spreading to other cities.

A little background on Sidewalk Labs; it’s a Google start-up that aims to target issues that affect modern cities such as pollution, communications, energy, traffic and the cost of living. The CEO of Sidewalk Labs (and now also Chairman of Intersection), Dan Doctoroff says that it was formed to look at the confluence of the physical and digital world to solve urban problems. As for LinkNYC, while he did say that the technology could suit other cities, he declined to be specific.

 Doctoroff said: “By bringing these two industry leaders together, Intersection will help make cities connected places where you can walk down any street and access free ultra high-speed Wi-Fi, find transit and wayfinding information, access information about city services — the possibilities are endless.”

The LinkNYC network is due to begin construction early 2016 throughout New York’s five boroughs. If you live in the Big Apple, are you looking forward to seeing unused payphones replaced by the LinkNYC WiFi pillars? Let us know in the comments.

Full Press Release

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23, 2015 – New company aims to bring new model for connectivity, municipal services and civic engagement to cities around the world. Control Group and Titan, key members of the team behind LinkNYC, announced today that they will merge and be acquired by a consortium of investors led by Sidewalk Labs.

The new company, named Intersection, combines both companies’ expertise in technology and innovation at the convergence of the digital and physical worlds. LinkNYC, their groundbreaking project in New York City with partners Qualcomm and Comark, will create up to 10,000 communications hubs that provide city residents and visitors with free public gigabit Wi-Fi, access to communications, information and municipal services across the city. Intersection will aim to extend the thinking and approach behind LinkNYC into an array of solutions to help make cities around the world more livable and connected.

Sidewalk CEO Dan Doctoroff will serve as the Chairman of Intersection. Doctoroff said: “By bringing these two industry leaders together, Intersection will help make cities connected places where you can walk down any street and access free ultra high-speed Wi-Fi, find transit and wayfinding information, access information about city services — the possibilities are endless. Titan brings deep understanding partnering with governments and transit authorities, while Control Group has unparalleled expertise in creating digital products and experiences for the physical world. With LinkNYC, Control Group and Titan have shown that by integrating new technologies into existing infrastructure cities can reinvent these assets – providing not just more modern, free services to citizens but even more revenue to cities. As Sidewalk Labs works to scale technology solutions for cities around the world, this is just the first of many urban challenges we will be tackling.”

Control Group is known for its leading-edge public interfaces in mass transit, airports, cultural institutions and retail. Colin O’Donnell, a founding partner of Control Group, said: “The combination of technology and media has always driven innovation on the web. With Intersection, we’re excited to bring the same principles to cities and public spaces to drive civic innovation and create more connected, responsive and vibrant places to live.”

Titan has a significant out-of-home advertising business that generates revenue for cities and municipal authorities, and has operated the New York City public phone booths now being converted under LinkNYC. Don Allman, CEO of Titan, said: “Intersection will allow us to play a pivotal role in helping cities and municipal authorities deliver improved city services and a better customer experience.”

The companies will combine New York City offices to encourage a collaborative environment. Senior management teams from both Titan and Control Group will remain at Intersection. Control Group and Titan will continue to provide their world-class roster of clients with excellent service – across digital strategy, technology, design and out-of-home advertising. Intersection will also provide current and future clients with new urban experience and information products and services that build on the strengths of both companies to create value for citizens, brands and governments and to improve life in cities around the world.

Financial terms of the deal are not disclosed.

About Intersection
Intersection is an urban experience company that combines expertise in technology, user experience and interactive engagement at the convergence of digital and physical worlds to improve life in cities around the world. Intersection is the result of a merger between Control Group and Titan, key members of the team behind LinkNYC, the groundbreaking project to turn payphones into urban information hubs. It is owned by a consortium of investors including Sidewalk Labs. Visit http://www.intersection.com and follow us on Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

About Sidewalk Labs
Sidewalk Labs is an urban innovation company launched by Dan Doctoroff and Google devoted to improving city life for residents, businesses and city governments, in particular by developing and incubating civic technologies.

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