NeoMedia Technologies, Inc (NEOM)

[WilliamFL]

Vodafone Using Vending Machines to Sell Phones

The vending machine has come a long way since the Ancient Greeks invented an urn dispensing holy water. Vodafone has installed the first vending machine in the UK to dispense mobile phones. Initially being piloted in Vodafone stores in Manchester, the QuickPhone kiosk could become a common sight everywhere from festivals to train stations.

The vending machine is designed for those who know what they want, from a simple Pay As You Talk phone from £30 to a Sim Pack costing £5. Each machine will offer the customer a choice of three phones, and will be the first vending machine to use Chip and Pin technology, in addition to allowing customers to pay in cash. The phone will be changed on a monthly basis, in line with new models and the latest trends.

The Quickphone vending machine was developed exclusively for Vodafone UK by UTL, utilising technology and mechanics from FAS (Italy), Vianet and Fujitsu Services. It uses 3G technology to inform Vodafone of stock levels, enabling the vending machine to be used in even the most remote locations.

Tom Devine, Head of Retail at Vodafone UK comments: "Increasingly, more people know what they want from a phone and want to buy it when it suits them. Vodafone's QuickPhone will revolutionise the industry by allowing self-service in almost any location."