LQD WiFi

LQD WiFi, founded in 2014 by Randy Ramusack, operated in the smart city and Internet of Things (IoT) sector before its acquisition by Verizon in November 2016. Ramusack, who previously served as CTO for Microsoft in Switzerland and CIO in the UK, brought extensive experience in technology and international business to the venture. The New York-based company's core mission was to address the digital divide and enhance urban living by providing widespread access to information.

The company developed and deployed a flagship product known as 'Palo', a multi-functional smart kiosk designed for public spaces. This street-level technology hub was conceived to offer free public Wi-Fi, access to community information, transit updates, wayfinding services, and public safety announcements. Each Palo kiosk was equipped with features like a human-scale touchscreen, security cameras, emergency calling capabilities, and area lighting, aiming to create a more connected and secure community environment. The initial concept for the kiosk was developed in partnership with the design firm frog, which also became an equity partner. LQD WiFi's business strategy targeted municipalities, private developers, universities, and entertainment venues as primary clients.

LQD WiFi's revenue model was based on long-term service contracts for the deployment and management of its Palo units. After raising approximately $1.73 million in a seed round, the company was acquired by Verizon as part of the telecommunication giant's strategy to expand its IoT and smart city portfolio. The acquisition integrated LQD's technology with Verizon's infrastructure to deploy community technology hubs at scale. Following the acquisition, Ramusack took on an executive director role at Verizon to manage the integration.

Keywords: smart city, IoT, public Wi-Fi, community engagement, digital kiosk, urban technology, outdoor interactive display, public safety, Verizon acquisition, Randy Ramusack