Vodafone introduces first mobile-vending machines in U.K.

Today Vodafone UK unveiled two new pay-as-you-go cellphone mobile phone vending machines in Manchester. These "Quickphone" kiosks are just the beginning of what Vodafone hopes to become a vending empire across all of Britain, and then, the world! For £30/$53 (payable via cash or chip and pin credit cards), punters will get a fully charged handset and £1 worth of calling credit which can be topped off over the phone, at cash machines, or in shops. Machines will be stocked with three different phone models which will be refreshed monthly reflecting the latest trends. Sounds like the perfect plan to recycle all those soon to be defunct fag machines in English bars and pubs.

[Anonymous Coward @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

We had such things for testing in Estonia about 3 or more years ago. They have been uninstalled for lack of use.

[+1L4M3 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

That's actually the worst idea I've ever heard.

[Ryan Waddell @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

"Hey, terrorists! You guys want the easiest way possible to get an untraceable throwaway phone? Here ya go!"

What a stupid idea. Vodafone already has stores and kiosks every 20 feet or so (go to Grafton St in Dublin, there's at LEAST 3), the only posible use I could see for these is that you can get a phone when those are closed. And the number of times I've needed a new phone and phone number at 4 in the morning, wooo boy I couldn't even tell you!

[delerious @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

You know how many teenagers that don't have phones here in America would die for this....yea this is stupid stuff. It would make them money if they put it in the right place.

[Johnny B @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Anyone know where in Manchester this is?

Like to have a look, before it's 'robbed' or taken away after being found to be utterly pointless in this mobi-saturated town of ours.

[Apoco-Lips @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

@ #3/Ryan Waddell
"What a stupid idea. Vodafone already has stores and kiosks every 20 feet or so (go to Grafton St in Dublin, there's at LEAST 3), the only possible use I could see for these is that you can get a phone when those are closed."

Vending machines are probably far cheaper to finance than shop-spaces with ridiculous rent costs and then labour costs etc on top... that would seem to be why theyre so prevalent in Japan (1 for every 4 people in the population)- the difference is: in Japan you dont get ASBO kids pissing and writing graffiti on them, knocking them over and cracking them open for the coins and contents.
In some parts of the UK, the vending machines would need armed police protecting them :P

[elzie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

It turns out that these vending machines are in the vodafone shops, so you won't be able to access them at 4am! Pretty pointless in the first place, but even more pointless in the shop where there are lots of phones for sale!

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/technology/s/179/179557_buy_your_mobile_from_a_machine.html

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Having worked in a mobile phone shop, I can tell you that these vending machines will be far from useless.

All I used to get all day was people coming in asking for the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go phone we had. Some lunchtimes the queue would be literally out of the door, because dealing with a contract customer can take a good deal of time. Over half these customers would be after a cheapo PAYG phone.

Getting these people out of the queue will allow the shop staff to deal with the customers who actually need help. It will also speed up the process for the PAYG customers.

[Ken @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

so this is like the stamp machine in the post office, a time saver

[Laurent "crp" Hogue @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Yeah so people will buy a cheapo cellphone that gonna break in 2-3 weeks of use and they will have to buy a new one. Did they put at least a cellphone recycle bin near the machine? So much waste..

[LondonCalling @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

This is all we need... more clutter on the streets... Is the world with Internet, mobile, and a mobile phone store from every competitor on every street corner in London not enough?!?

[bean @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

so now even the salesperson's job has been replaced by a machine...

[John Stracke @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Next step: the vending machine will let you pay by cellphone.

[Bazza @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

At least the ones in america are in airports.

[Kim Laughton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

"Hey, terrorists! You guys want the easiest way possible to get an untraceable throwaway phone? Here ya go!"

I agree - all new ideas should be put on hold until the terrorist threat subsides (which won't be long with the US army kicking its arse).

[TheWakeUpCall @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

"Anyone know where in Manchester this is?" - You are kidding me right? (just incase you are not, its the north of england). Also finally they are called mobile phones, such a better name than cell phones! (im from england) And are there really teens in america without mobiles? Everyone in the uk over the age of 14 has a mobile, oh and under 60, dont wanna confuse the oldies! And also, this idea sucks, what's wrong with just going to a store and buying a phone? is it really that hard!?

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

TheWakeUpCall: you're an idiot.
Firstly, he asked WHERE in Manchester these are based, not where Manchester IS, fool.

Secondly, this idea doesn't suck because as Aaron mentioned (a fellow mobile salesperson), it will save us a LOT of time - especially when the most frequent words I hear daily are 'cheap' 'easy to use' and 'emergency use'.

Back into your cave. kthxbye.

[RX9 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Pretty soon, these will replace payphones (remember them?)... But seriously, what's this about having to top up somewhere else? Here's a bloody crazy idea: how about topping up AT the vending machine?

[TheWakeUpCall @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Right, erm, post before me, whatever. And surely if you are posting on a gadget site you know enough to outsmart the salesmen.

[RX9 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

#20 - I think you mean one before me.

Anyway, they could deploy these at airport arrivals, and they'd clean up...

[TheWakeUpCall @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

yeah sorry RX9. But I still don't understand how this will save you time... I mean, if you are buying a phone surely you want to see what you are buying and use it and have it explained by the salesman...

[Tpassafiume @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Well just to add i am an American teenager that does not have a cell phone. As a 15 year old i thinks its stupid that i need to call everyone at all times of the day. I don't know enough people that i would need to really talk to. Back to the subject if there is a cell phone both down where i live (Long island NY), i will be the first to say cherry bomb it and beak into it. I hate things that over industrialize us as a human race and to let this idea ponder in your mind; i never figured that a cordless phone would tie you so up.

[Tpassafiume @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Well just to add i am an American teenager that does not have a cell phone. As a 15 year old i thinks its stupid that i need to call everyone at all times of the day. I don't know enough people that i would need to really talk to. Back to the subject if there is a cell phone both down where i live (Long island NY), i will be the first to say cherry bomb it and beak into it. I hate things that over industrialize us as a human race and to let this idea ponder in your mind; i never figured that a cordless phone would tie you so up.

[iBill @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

�1 worth of cell credit? whats the point? I could go to my nearest phone guru shop and get a plan for the same price, but with 300x more minutes.
Besides... aren't cell phone batteries like really really bed for the environment? God, whoever came up with this idea should be shot.

[TheWakeUpCall @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Well Tpassafiume. I am also 15, but live in England. Firstly I would say that obviously the English would be trusted more than the Americans, as I doubt that theft or vandalism of the vending machine would be a big problem. And also, there is a reason that most teenagers in England have a mobile/cell phone, because if they get stuck in town, or need a ride home, their own private taxi service (their parents) can usually give them a ride. :)