To: Dale J. who wrote (65354 ) 9/23/1998 9:01:00 PM From: John Koligman Respond to of 186894
OT - But something that I'm sure will prove indispensable to all you Silicon Valley 'round the clock' workers!!! Apparently Nokia is testing a 'dial a snack' service where your trusty Nokia cell phone will be able to dial your local vending machine. The machine will dispense your snack, and the charge for it will appear on your monthly phone bill!! I cracked up when I read this one.... True innovation! John <ggg> Dow Jones Newswires -- September 23, 1998 Nokia Unveils New Phones, Demonstrates 'Dial-A-Snack' Svc Dow Jones Newswires ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nokia Corp. (NOKA) unveiled three new products: the Nokia 282 analog "wearable" cellular phone and the Nokia 5120 and 5160 digital wireless phones. Together with Aerial Communications Inc. (AERL), Nokia has also begun demonstrations of "Dial-A-Snack," a service that would allow consumers to purchase a snack by using a GSM 1900 mobile phone. In a series of three press releases on Wednesday, Nokia said the 282 analog cellular phone is scheduled for shipping in volume in January 1999. The device is available in four colors, stores up to 75 names and numbers and includes Caller ID capability. Nokia said the 5120 and the 5160 are time division multiple access, or TDMA, additions to its 5100 series of digital wireless phones. The Nokia 5120 is an 800 MHz single band, dual mode modela and the Nokia 5160 is 800/1900 MHz dual band, tri-mode model. The new wireless phones include user-changeable Xpress-On color covers and the Nokia NaviKey, a single button that enables phone users to access all functions of the phone. The Dial-A-Snack concept, which is now being tested in Europe, allows a customer to use a GSM mobile phone to dial a vending machine's phone number. The machine dispenses the snack selection, and the charge for the snack appears on the customer's regular wireless service statement. Aerial Communications owns PCS licenses for U.S. metropolitan areas. Nokia, based in Helsinki, is a telecommunications concern.