Potato Chips, Candy Bars and Software Now Available in Vending Machines

Potato chips, candy bars, tiny works of art -- and now software -- are available in vending machines.

Today, NY1 News reported that CompUSA will begin selling software from a SoftWare ToGo kiosk, sort of like an ATM machine that dispenses CDs, in its stores. The machine is never out of stock because it burns software CDs on demand.

It's a marketing win:win. CompUSA gains because software packages take up lots of valuable shelf space that could be used for higher ticket items. And customers win because titles they want are always in stock. It would be better yet if you could download the titles from the CompUSA site and burn your own CD from your home or office computer.

ìOnce the product is paid for the sales clerk punches in the product number, the CD is burnt, it's printed, at the same time the jacket cover is being printed, an insert booklet specific for that product is being printed.

The process takes approximately 3-4 minutes,î said Tony Andrews of Protocall Technologies Inc. of Commack, New York, the company that devised the electronic software delivery SoftWare ToGo system.

Andrews says some 200 software publishers have put up a total of 1,000 titles on the SoftwareToGo system, including titles from five of the top 10 software makers.

CompUSAs across the country are starting to install the kiosks. Right now, the only one in New York state is in Hauppauge. Others are in San Francisco and Dallas and the remainder of the chain will receive their SoftwareToGo systems in early 2004.

Comments

Posted by: aaron wall at December 24, 2003 12:46 PM

Posted by: B.L. Ochman at December 24, 2003 7:37 PM

Post a comment

Email this story to a friend

TrackBacks

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.whatsnextonline.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1419