Image courtesy CityBridge

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Now here's a brilliant idea: New York City is turning its thousands of archaic payphones into free WiFi hotspots beginning next year.

The city has discussed the plan for the past few years, but as of Monday, it unveiled plans to turn as many as 10,000 old phones into "links," small towers no bigger than a payphone or ATM equipped with WiFi as well as Android-powered screens to make free domestic calls and view interactive maps of the city.

Additionally, each link will include charging stations for the mobile devices people tend to use instead of payphones. They will also serve as a means of communication during emergencies or natural disasters.

As seen in the draft design (photo above), links will function as digital billboards as a means to pay for the free service provided. The city expects to bring in more than $500 million in advertising revenue over the next 12 years, which would easily cover the $200 million construction cost as well as maintenance.

Construction is expected to begin sometime next year, and while most of the city's payphones will be transformed, a few will remain untouched for historic or sentimental purposes.