What if buying a new cell phone or telephone accessory was as easy as walking up to a vending machine and making your purchase? As a new market opens for the placement of products right in the path of consumers, this is becoming possible.

 

In an announcement made today, Motorola Inc. has said they will be the first mobile device manufacturer to offer their products on-demand to consumers via robotic retail stores.

 

The new service is part of a pilot program in key markets set up to test the effectiveness of automated vending, with hopes of further strengthening consumer relationships by providing them what they need, fast, and when they need it.

 

For the service, Zoom Systems, provider of automated retail systems, will provide small robotic stores named "INSTANTMOTO" in 20 different key locations including airports and malls by November 2006.

 

The plan is to strategically place the vending machines in high traffic areas. According to a recent news release, the stores will be loaded with "25 Motorola (News - Alert) products including carrier-ready MOTORAZR handsets, Bluetooth-enabled headsets, cordless phones, car chargers and more."

 

Commenting on the importance of an enhanced customer experience and efforts to reinvent the mobile retail culture, Jason Few, Corporate Vice President, Global Retail, Motorola said in a statement to the press, "This pilot program is an opportunity to being never-seen-before convenience to consumers who are looking for ways to make life easier."

 

San Francisco National Airport and Macy's on State Street currently have the store in place.

 

For more information, please visit: www.motorola.com and www.zoomsystems.com