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Read the press release here.

Subway Cell Phone Service Excites Some Straphangers

By Tuan Nguyen | September 23, 2011 4:00pm | Updated on September 23, 2011 8:06pm
New York’s straphangers are excited with the possibility to use cellphones in Manhattan’s subway stations. The service will be available next week.
New York’s straphangers are excited with the possibility to use cellphones in Manhattan’s subway stations. The service will be available next week.
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DNAinfo/Tuan Nguyen

DOWNTOWN — Straphangers will be able to use their cell phones on a handful of subway station platforms starting next week, sources said.

The MTA will test the pilot program starting Tuesday the C and E train platforms at 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue, the A, C, E and L train platforms at 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, the F, M, and L train platforms at Sixth Avenue and 14th Street, and the 1, 2, 3 train platform at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue, according to the sources.

DNAinfo asked riders in Union Square Friday morning whether they were excited by the prospect of checking their email or chatting on the phone while underground.

Lisa Shea, who lives in Brooklyn and commutes to the Upper West Side, thought the service was a good idea.

“If I get out of work and I’m trying to get in touch with people for evening plans, sometimes I’ll be cut off for an hour and an hour a half,” she said.

Dov Hoffman, 55, from Manhattan, said he was already testing his phone to see if he could catch a signal while he was waiting for the L train. "I’ve just checked whether it’s working,” he said. “Just can’t wait.”

In a move that could disappoint many cellphone users, service would be initially available only to AT&T and T-mobile subscribers for now. Sources said that there were plans to extend that service to other carriers.

Some straphangers, however, were concerned about what the plan would mean for the future of travel on the subway.

“Cell phone service in the subway stations is fine, but on the train is terrible. Everybody will be very close and talking,” said Dan Friedman, 40. “End of peace on the subway train.”  

With Tom Liddy