Only in the US

Oct 10, 2005 07:10 GMT  ·  By

The idea to purchase products through the cell phone is not new; in fact, it has even been put into commission for subway rides in some Asian regions.

Soon, this payment method will be available to the Americans who want to buy a Pepsi can from the vending machines. The project is backed by Wirca and Pepsi, and if the tests are successful, it will be expanded to a larger scale.

The transactions carried out via the cell phone are a novelty on the American continent, and Wirca is the first to launch such a project, which is accessible to all cell phone owners, regardless of their operator.

The partnership between Wirca, Pepsi and other producers of refreshing beverages will be implemented in commercial centers and educational institutions from Kansas City, South Dakota and Bay Area, California. Approximately 25,000 students and employees from different companies will have access to the vending machines, that don't require coins anymore.

The wireless technology and the electronic payment systems carried out through the cell phone will solve the coin deficiency caused by vending machine thefts. At the same time, the electronic solution will put an end to the conflicts between humans and vending machines, caused by the mechanical incidents.

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