New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at an announcement of neighborhood WiFi in New York January 8, 2013. Google Inc and a New York redevelopment organization are providing a Manhattan neighbourhood with free public WiFi Internet access, making it the largest area of coverage in New York City. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly) Windows 8 fails to reignite PC market: Gartner Skype to replace Microsoft Messenger in March Google drops key patent claims against Microsoft Windows 8 sales reach 60 million Google anti-trust probe ends in mild reprimand

Google Inc and a New York redevelopment organization are providing a Manhattan neighborhood with free public WiFi Internet access, making it the largest area of coverage in New York City.

The search giant and the non-profit Chelsea Improvement Co are making Internet access available outdoors in Chelsea, which is home to Google’s New York offices and several technology start-ups.

The neighborhood is also home to many students, as well as residents of one of the city’s public housing developments.

Google does not plan to extend the program, a company spokesman said on Tuesday.

The company also provides free Internet access to the city of Mountain View, California, where its main campus is located.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer helped unveil the initiative.