Many of these pay phone kiosks have fallen into disrepair as the telephone companies that used to operate them spend less and less time on their upkeep. Residents complain that many of the kiosks have become unsightly and crime magnets.

The city seems to believe that giving a new purpose to these pay phones addresses these important concerns, as well as providing more Internet access around the city.

Ten locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens were brought online Wednesday. The city says additional hotspots would be turned on in the "coming months," in places like Staten Island and the Bronx. The service is free and available to passersby within 300 feet of these kiosks. Currently the service includes no advertisements.

That's likely not to last: Each installation costs about $2,000, and is being paid for by Van Wagner Communications and Titan Communication, which own a majority of the city's 13,000 pay phones.