h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Dial-A-Pepsi - Buying Soft Drink By The Cellular Method - A934094
Author: Dr Montague Trout - U188966

Is this right for PR?

Do they have these in, say, Hong Kong or the US?

I'm not quite sure what to say about this one.

At least you're on the cutting edge, Trout...

B

It seems like from here ... that's why I thought I'd shove it in.

I suppose really it's an intro to the larger subject of m-commerce.

DMT

this reminds my of DNA's description in the (sadly posthumous)Salmon of Doubt of the internet control of soda vending machines. Although that was not a case of m-commerce but rather e-theft

Purchasing soft drinks (not just pepsi) with the use of your mobile phone has been available in Norway for a couple of years. Other m-commerce ideas, like topping up the parking meter with your mobile are also available. They haven't really become a great success yet though.

Purchasing soft drinks (not just pepsi) with the use of your mobile phone has been available in Norway for a couple of years. Other m-commerce ideas, like topping up the parking meter with your mobile are also available. They haven't really become a great success yet though.

I'll add Norway to the bracketed list ...

Woohoo, Norway rocks. Eh... I'm sorry about the double post.

No worries - it makes this thread seem more interesting than it really is.

DMT

This is a great topic, and a good start of an entry, but I would like to see more detail. What phone companies support this? How does it work? When, where and why does it work? That sort of thing. The entry seems a little thin at the moment to me. Nice start though.

Also, I would use a numbered list for step by step instructions.

Tango

interesting, but a bit short. i would be interested in seeing some more about m-commerce.

one more thing, i think the first sentence in the second paragraph should be changed from, "As another arrow in quiver of m-commerce..." to , " As another arrow in [the] quiver of m-commerce..."

I think your request would be close to impossible to fullfill Tango. There are lots of ways to implement this, and also lots of ways it can be used. Working in this business I know of at least two implementations of this in Norway...

The basics though are to have a machine that can both send and receive signals over a network, possibly the phone network, or the internet (if you're not afraid of hacking).
Someone wanting a soda reads the instructions on the machine and either phones or uses SMS to contact a 'service'. In this interaction the code of the soda machine and the identity of the buyer is transmitted to the service. Security can be through different means, a pin code, certificates embedded on the cell phone's SIM card, etc.
The service checks the credentials and sends a message to the machine to inform it that it's time to dispense the drink of choice.

Payment can either be over the phone bill, or it can be from a separate m-commerce account.
Payment over the phone bill makes the phone company vulnerable to someone who racks up a huge bill and splits. Not a big risk when only soda machines have m-commerce capabilities, and I don't think parking meters would increase the risk very much, but for the service to actually make a decent profit there has to be more products available, which means a higher risk of fraud.

And if that confused you... well that's why I usually just say "I'm in computing".

I think you should try and put that info in the entry, as it is it's a bit thin.

Tango

There are indeed a couple of approaches here, bluetooth technology uses radio transmission to trigger the vending machine (This is I believe how this is currently working in Sweden) The caller's phone is then charged for both the call and the cost of the can. Texting can also be used for this in a similar manner,

The other method is using smart card techology, which is the reason the bluetooth has not exactly set the world on fire. Smart cards are becoming available which are personally identifiable by user, and (allegedly) secure. There is a pressure group which is interested in bringing in ID cards in the UK, and making these a multi-function card. The idea is that a single card would be used for passport, driving license, bank card, purchases of this nature, and access to car parks, museums, you name it.

Of course the downside of such a card would be the total dis-enfranchisement of the impoverished. You would need a bank account to get one, and if you have debt problems you can't get a bank account, or indeed if you're homeless.

And yes - I "work in the computer industry" too.

"I think your request would be close to impossible to fullfill Tango"

Why would you want to fulfill Tango?

B

Anyone else got 'owt else to say before I fatten this up.

I have!
Not entirely sure "the cellular method" is correct, as this is a british site and we don't use the word "cell phone" (i'm not even sure why it's called a cell phone). How about "the mobile method"?
to be pedantic.
Oberon2001

We do sometimes use "cell phone", it means it works by "cells" which are small areas of the country between tranmitters, (i think)

Tango

I'm going to retitle it.

Dial-A-Pepsi - The Birth of M-Commerce.

... and add some lard, just for Tango.