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Half
a dozen walk-in, punter-friendly booths are now up and running at
sites across the city centre.
The
new, eleven-feet tall computer pods will make it easier for anyone
to access a broad range of information; whether you're looking for
a job or checking out the latest news from Goodison & Anfield.
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| New
pavement pods |
If
successful, the £250,000 pilot project could pave the way
for more than 100 similar pods across Liverpool.
Council
leader Mike Storey is confident they’ll prove a big hit.
“These
pods are the latest example of how we are using forward-thinking
projects to make the city more tourist-friendly, business-friendly
and customer-friendly,” he says.
It
is hoped that the new initiative will give people direct access
to a broad range of services: from Capital of Culture events to
sport, tourism and jobs.
The
aim is to boost the city’s accessability to visitors, opening
up a new ‘e-world’ for residents and tourists alike.
People
wanting to contact friends and relatives in the UK or overseas will
be able to use the pods to send free e-mails, text messages, photomail
and even picture postcards.
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| The
public will be able to access a wide range of services at no
extra cost. |
Singapore
student Juliana Kho and Sun Zheng Shuai from China became two of
the first people to get to grips with a pod.
The
students, who study at the University of Liverpool, helped in the
official launch by sending free e-mails to friends and family overseas.
“We
are committed to making sure everyone has access to computers and
technology, and I’m delighted that people can use the pods
to send free e-mails and text messages,” says Mike Storey.
“We
also want to give people as much choice as possible as to when and
where they contact the council.”
BT - who were chosen by the city council to manage the project after
an international search - will check, maintain and clean each pod
four times a week.
All
information on the pods will be available initially in English,
Spanish, French, Chinese and Somali with more languages added later.
The
first six pods are located in: Church Street, city centre; Upper
Parliament Street, L8; West Derby Road, Tuebrook; Breck Road, Anfield;
Allerton Road, Allerton; Moss Way/ Mullion Road, Croxteth.
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