Japanese Coke machines to accept cellphone credit payment
October 1st, 2006 - Posted in Other
US soft-drink giant Coca-Cola has said it will equip its vending machines in Japan to accept credit payment through mobile telephones, an increasingly popular money option in the country.
Coca-Cola Japan said its machines will start accepting iD, a contactless credit service on mobile phones developed by cellular industry leader NTT DoCoMo and Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co, on October 31.
All of its its 10,000 machines will be iD compatible by the end of this year, the company said.
Coca-Cola Japan also wants to increase the number of such vending machines to accept the credit payment service to 200,000 by the end of 2008.
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 credit bill.
Vending machines are found on nearly every corner of Japan. At the end of last year there were 2.77 million machines across the country.
Coca-Cola Japan runs 980,000 machines in the country.
The company also benefits from electronic payment, which is less expensive in maintenance costs than bills or coins.