Wednesday, April 21, 2010

New telephone booth


If I tell you that Orange (ex France Telecom) is currently installing new public phones in the street (see a broader view on the making of), I'm sure you're going to laugh at me... And though that is what they are doing in some specific, touristic areas as an experiment. Why? Because these telephone booths have nothing to do with what the good old pay phones of "the past" used to be (including the first one, that was presented at the electricity exhibit in 1881!). This new model allows you to call, of course, but also to surf the web, find a restaurant/shop/theater... around the booth. Check this little video to see a demo. It's probably a good idea, but now that almost everyone has a mobile phone with Internet access I don't really think there will be much demand.

20 comments:

  1. wow...that's new to me! it's the first time i've seen something like that....maybe there will be a demand...you never know!

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  2. Ah, but for tourists whose cell phones don't work internationally, it could be a godsend. I was grateful for internet access last year when the PDP picnic location was changed at the last minute! I would have been on that rainy quai all by myself.

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  3. I wish some of our chauvinistic Americans who think the world revolves around our country could see this picture and read your description. How advanced your country is in so many areas!!!!
    PS- I have had an extended stay in PHX becAUSE OF THE VOLCANO. Maybe CDG on Monday?????

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  4. It would be nice not to have to use the mobile phone to surf the internet with those astronomical international roaming charges when visiting Paris. I'm certain this when also be faster and much more accurate when trying to find restaurants or many other venues.

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  5. Oh la la—this is brilliant! And probably being used by all the folks who are stuck there. I'm with PHX, and wish we had this here.
    PHX -- my work colleague went to run the Paris marathon, and planned to be back at work today. Oops—AA tells him that he MAY get out by next Monday. Let's hope that as you fly in he'll be flying out. I can think of worse places to be stuck—unless, of course, you have no place to stay!

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  6. Oh and btw, Eric—not everyone has a smartphone, with Internet access (I don't mind the initial price so much as the monthly charge).

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  7. Ah, so this is what France is doing with all those leftover Minitels!

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  8. Well maybe I"ll look into this. I don't have a razzle dazzle cell so I might want to use these while in Paris.
    I"m not high tech Eric! Can I do it?
    V

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  9. I like it. Hope it succeeds. Wonder what has been done to make it vandal and graffiti resistant. And what a teaser at the end of the video. Had to hear all of it here. Come to think about it, I’ll bet Jim would like access to some of that Orange™ “juice.” It would help him pass the time during his forced stay in Paris.

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  10. And speaking of old rock stars, remember when the common wisdom was that vinyl was dead? Turntables are very high demand and expensive now, and audiophiles all buy vinyl because it sounds better than CDs or downloads. I am so glad I still have vinyl records. They might finance my retirement.

    The moral of the story is, new technology is not necessarily the long-term best technology, for many reasons including cost and availability, as others noted above.

    I know, it's only telephone
    But I like it, like it, yes I do.

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  11. oh i hope they catch on. easy access for everyone - i am behind the times. i just got a cell phone and still am not very good at the texting and browsing the internet....eeeek! i held out as long as i could.

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  12. Usually, when I see your post, I sigh with sad delight and mentally calculate my pennies to see how far I am from a trip to Paris. This just made me scowl. Technology sometimes interferes with ingrained aesthetics.

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  13. Surfez...
    Yes I agree right now. Where? Atlantic Ocean? Pacific? Anywhere'd be fine. It is so hard to close myself into my office while it is so sunny outside. The weather is fantastic at the moment in France. Surfez, souriez, respirez... seem to speak to me! ;-)

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  14. I don't have a phone with internet access, so this would be so helpful! I'm really not a techie, so it will probably be a LOOONNGG while before I do get one of those. Basically, I don't want to have to pay for it!

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  15. Thx Alexa!That's more info than I have been given!

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  16. Thanks for the information, Eric. I think it will be popular--not everyone has a wonderful family to help them out with a phone and a computer when they come to Paris for a visit. :)

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  17. Guess its a great feature for tourists and short travellers...

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  18. My husband went to England for a week recently, and came home to an iPhone bill with an extra $1,000 on it. It was all internet use and GPS charges. He got it knocked down to $600, but still...that's a lot of dough for one week.

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  19. Désolée, mais on n'est pas tous des cadres - les portables avec accès Internet ?
    Pour la plupart d'entre nous, un téléphone, c'est un téléphone, voilà tout. Accéder facilement à l'Internet lors d'un séjour en France - formidable!

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  20. Given the cost of mobile internet (esp. without a subscription) in France, it would surely find its use. Also, mobile internet on roaming is not friendly on the wallet.

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