Coca-Cola serves up wireless vending in Japan. (New Apps to Learn From).(Coca-Cola Japan, NTT DoCoMo Inc. and ITOCHU Corp. launch vending machine service)(Brief Article)

E-Tactics Letter, The, April, 2002

One year after its inception, a project by Coca-Cola Japan, wireless giant NTT DoCoMo and trading group Itochu Corp. to make mobile handsets order and pay for soft drinks from vending machines is being touted as a new wireless sales channel.

The Japanese companies initially sought to turn NTT DoCoMo's I-mode handsets into cashless vendors of soda. A trial in Tokyo aimed to see if it would be commercially feasible to link Japan's vending machines to I-mode mobile phones.

This month, Coca-Cola will begin installing hybrid vending machines across the nation. The wireless kiosks will now be based on Cmode, the new name for the service and technology.

"Detailed analysis has shown Cmode to have high levels of consumer acceptance and to provide...

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