Pepsi goes ‘social’ with vending machines

Beverage major, Pepsi has announced a social vending machine that lets users send free sodas to friends as well as strangers.

Announced at a trade show in Chicago, the vending technology enables consumers to better connect with PepsiCo brands right at the point of purchase, the company said.

To send a free soda, users need to select a beverage, enter the recipient's name, mobile number and a personalised text message, which is sent along with a code redeemable at another vending machine.

Users can also personalise the gift with a short video recorded right at the machine.

''Social vending extends our consumers' social networks beyond the confines of their own devices and transforms a static, transaction-oriented experience into something fun and exciting they'll want to return to,'' said Mikel Durham, chief innovation officer at PepsiCo Foodservice, said in a statement.

Pepsi is also exploring Facebook or other social media integration as next step to its social vending machines, Mashable reported.