AT&T to Introduce Solar-Powered Charging Stations. (New York Times)

Starting Tuesday, 25 solar-powered charging stations will sprout in parks, beaches and other outdoor spaces in the five boroughs, part of a pilot project from the wireless provider in partnership with the city. The stations — 12.5-foot steel poles with three petal-shaped solar panels fanning out on top — can accommodate up to six devices at a time regardless of wireless carrier, with dedicated ports for iPhones, Androids, BlackBerrys and standard USB charging cables.

A very cool idea. But seriously, folks . . .

Who’s going to stand around this charger cocktail table in the middle of the beach at Coney Island for half an hour waiting to get a 30 percent charge on his iPhone? Or even worse . . . standing around for two hours in Bryant Park waiting for a full charge?

I suppose we could leave our phones there and go for a cup of . . . no we can’t. This is New York. Chances of finding the iPhone where you left it are about as good as the Mets coming back to win the World Series this year.

Not to mention what’s going to happen when a hundred people want to use the same recharge stand. This isn’t London; we don’t queue up in an orderly manner.

I don’t have high hopes for this one.