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Contactless Vending Machines & Coca-Cola |
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Thursday, 28 September 2006 |
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Felicia cards are increasingly accepted as payment in stores and public transportation in Japan. US soft-drink company Coca-Cola said on Wednesday that it will equip all its vending machines in Japan to accept payment through cellphones, an increasingly popular payment option in the country.
Coca-Cola Japan has said that all of its 200 000 machines by the end of 2008 will accept Felicia, contactless credit cards on cellphones developed by cellular industry leader NTT DoCoMo and electronics giant Sony . The system will make it possible to buy any soft drink, coffee, tea or fruit drink in Coca-Cola machines in Japan by holding up a mobile to the machine, with the cost of the refreshment going on a monthly phone bill. Vending machines are found on nearly every streetcorner of Japan. At the end of last year there were 2.77 million vending machines across the country, nearly half of them operated by Coca-Cola Japan. The company also benefits from electronic payment, which is less expensive in maintenance costs than bills or coins. |
