Swipe and Sip

Consumers may now use their credit cards to purchase soft drinks from vending machines. Pepsi has developed a wireless technology that will permit consumers to swipe their credit cards to obtain Pepsi drinks. The machines being tested in Memphis supplement existing machines. The wireless technology was developed by U.S. Wireless Data, Inc. (NY) and allows Pepsi to monitor each machine through a Web site to determine whether it needs to be refilled. Consequently, the machines offer better profit margins to the vendor. Coca-Cola has developed similar machines, including one that raises prices when temperatures rise. While this procedure makes great economic sense, it has not received kudos from consumers and the press.