Wireless Companies Making Final Preparations For Papal Visit
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The final preparations in Philadelphia for the pope's visit are keeping your cell phone in mind: the big wireless companies have been working to make sure service and even your battery stays up to snuff.
An event like this is the Super Bowl for AT&T... or, actually...
"This is going to be, based on estimates, probably 15 times the big game." says spokesperson Brandy Bell.
Bell stands in the shadow of one of the cells on wheels -- or COWs -- that the cell carriers have parked along the Parkway.
"To make sure our customers are happy and be able to use their phones when they want to use them."
But even if those temporary and permanent improvements can't handle the smart phone masses at Mass, the Festival of Families, or on Independence Mall, at least you'll be able to juice up at device charging boxes. They're SEPTA's AT&T, Jefferson, and Walnut-Locust Stations.
"We will have cords for all makes and models." says Bell. "In addition to that we'll have some portable units that our folks will have on carts, and they'll be carrying those around with portable batteries."
You'll be able to add a little over one percent to your phone's tank for every minute you have it plugged in.