Pepsi’s social vending lets users buy drinks for friends remotely

It was not long ago that we wrote about frinXX, the German service that enabled users to buy drinks for friends remotely via Facebook. Now, in a similar vein, Pepsi’s new “Social Vending System”, lets users buy PepsiCo drinks for their friends through a digital vending machine. Users of the touch screen vending machine can choose to buy a drink for themselves, subscribe to the Pepsi Refresh Project, send a drink to a stranger, or to gift and redeem a drink from a friend. In order to send a gift, users choose a drink, enter the recipient’s name and mobile phone number, and type a personalized text message to be sent along with a unique code to the recipient’s phone. There is also the option to then record a video message using a camera built in to the vending machine. Once the text message has been received by the gift recipient, the code can be entered at a Pepsi social vending machine to redeem the gifted drink, and the pre-recorded video message will be played back on the touch screen. A report on Mashable claims ‘a PepsiCo rep says Facebook or other social media integration “are Phase 2 — being explored as it evolves’’. With or without any further development, this remains a fine example of an established brand innovating with social media. (Related: Pharmacy vending machine offers location-based specials through Foursquare — Vending machine rewards mental agility — Vending machines sell after-party shoes.) Spotted by: Florent Lesauvage