Jun 19 2001
Buy A Can of Coke - Pay by Cash, Card or Phone

Coca-Cola-SingTel partnership gives consumers more options for the first time in Asia

SINGAPORE, 19th June, 2001 - From August, Singaporeans will have no more reason to be thirsty, as F&N Coca-Cola has teamed up with SingTel Mobile to introduce two more easy ways of paying for a chilled Coca-Cola.

There’s the traditional method - cash. There is also the stored-value cashcard method, which has been in use since July last year and employs SmartCAD ( Card Acceptance Device ) technology.
The latest method is to dial-a-drink, either by using the *SEND method (see attached flowchart) on your cellphone, or send a short text message ( SMS ) to the vending machine using your cellphone. The charges will be added to your phone bill every month.

The technology will be exhibited at SingTel’s booth at CommunicAsia from June 19-22 (Hall 5, Booth No. 5H1-01), Singapore Expo. And beginning in August, the Singapore public will be able to enjoy this state-of-the-art feature on 200 fully functioning vending machines.

For the first year of operation, buying a Coca-Cola product using your cellphone will be a privilege reserved for SingTel Mobile post paid subscribers. In doing so, consumers may also stand a chance to win prizes and free drinks.

"We are pleased to be working closely with SingTel. As leading beverage provider we chose to partner Singapore’s leading telecommunication service provider to bring consumers leading technological innovations & offer multiple payment schemes to increase convenience and enhance the refreshment experience." said Bebe Teo, General Sales Manager for Vending, F&N Coca-Cola (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

SingTel Mobile currently has 1.6 million customers.
The technology was developed by Smartmove ( NZ ) Limited and has been in development since April 2001 .

Each time a call is placed by the consumer, it is received and processed by new technology in each machine. The technology is unique in its ability to accept cards, coins and phone payment methods in a single vending machine.

"Mobile phones are no longer just a communications device for making calls. With *Send, our customers can already retrieve information such as lottery and even nearby facilities such as ATMs and petrol stations with SingTel Mobile’s Location Based Services," said Mr Lucas Chow, CEO of SingTel Mobile.
"Our partnership with F&N Coca Cola brings even more value to our subscribers. They can now buy drinks from vending machines, which are conveniently located throughout Singapore, by keying a short numerical code on their mobile phones."

Machines with the * SEND and SMS payment facility can be found at tertiary institutions, bus stops, MRT stations, military camps, hospitals and office lobbies.