AT&T has started a new pilot-program called Street Charge that aims at providing free and eco-friendly solar mobile-charging stations for smartphones, tablets and other devices.
The telecom company aims to deploy about 25 Street Charge solar mobile charging units across the five boroughs of New York by the end of summer. The company has already installed four stations at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Union Square and Riverside Park.
The telecom giant has partnered with solar company Goal Zero and Brooklyn-based design firm Pensa to kick start Street Charge program. After Hurricane Sandy devastated the city of New York last fall, AT&T had set up mobile-charging stations across the powerless areas in the city. This prompted the company to start installing charging stations using solar power for daily use.
The 10-foot tall station has solar panels at top, which draw power and store it in lithium batteries. It is capable of providing continuous charge of three to four days. Most of the smartphones can be charged at the stations as it accommodates USB, microUSB, 30-pin and lightning connectors.
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