Pepsi Unveils 'Social Vending' Machine

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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

And today's last word in business is cheers.

Buying a drink from a vending machine has been a solitary experience, but that could change. Pepsi is unveiling a social vending machine. It lets you buy drinks for other people. Here's how it works. You digitally enter the recipient's name, phone number and a message into the machine, and your friend can pick up the soda at any other social vending machine in the country. The kink right now is there's only one such machine. It's at a trade show in Chicago, so you and your friends will just have to gather there to buy each other drinks.

(Soundbite of laughter)

MONTAGNE: Sure, Steve. There's a drink waiting for you just - just right over there. Right over there on your...

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

Hey, Renee, can I buy you a drink?

(Soundbite of laughter)

MONTAGNE: That's the business news on MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

INSKEEP: I'm Steve Inskeep.

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