BT are replacing phone boxes with phone-charging Wi-Fi pods

BT are set unveil the phone box of the 21st Century as they start trialling new phone-charging Wi-Fi pods.

Replacing the new red phone boxes of old, the new Link Wi-Fi kiosks will begin rolling out in London high streets from next year.

The BT kiosks will come boasting high speed Wi-Fi, two USB charging points for your phone, as well as access to maps and tourist information.

BT have called the rollout the “the next evolution” of its public payphones and hope to have with “at least 750” of the kiosks across central London and other cities over the next few years.

As reported in The Mirror, the kiosks will be able to access free ultrafast Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 1Gbps, two USB charging ports so that users can charge their phone and a touch-screen tablet for accessing maps, directions and local services.

Directions and local service information will be fed through a number of sensors on each kiosk, to allow each one to give you up to date information on the weather, traffic conditions and air pollution.

Oh and the kiosks will offer free UK landline and mobile phone calls to boot.

BT chief executive for wholesale and ventures Gerry McQuade said: “We’re evolving the phone box to make it relevant in the 21st century by offering people ultrafast Wi-Fi and a range of digital and information services entirely for free.”

Sounds all well and good, but can BT make the kiosks red? Y’know, for old times sake…