Coca-Cola and Samsung unveiled a new soda dispensing machine which incorporated a large LCD screen along with touchscreen capabilities with flash and motion graphics. The user can interact with the all touch screen interface. Future plans are for bluetooth integration and the ability to download songs and wallpapers directly to your phone. You may have seen these new vending machines if you were in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. They are rolling these out in select Simon Mall locations and if all goes well, you may see these in more places.

Personally, not sure if all the technology in the machine is worth it just to dispense a $1.00 bottle of Coca-Cola – but you know me, anything tech related and I’m there. Here is a clip from CNET’s Brian Tong who got to interact with one of these machines at this years CES show.

Another vending machine that the Cola giant has released is a different kind of dispenser. This is a new dispenser meant to replace the soda fountain at your local fast food joint. So why is that news? This new dispensing machine uses RFID technology (Radio Frequency ID) in the machine itself and changes the way the syrup is distributed to restaurants.

For years, soda fountain technology really hasn’t changed. Restaurateurs purchase large bags of syrup that is then connected to a water line that dispenses the carbonated drink of your choice with the press of your cup against the trigger.  This new machine uses cartridges, much like your inkjet printer, that has an RFID chip in it so that it can collect data on usage and help restaurants get a better handle on their inventory.  The new machine also allows for a myriad of drink combinations to be made.

We’ve all done it. We got our cup, filled it with ice and got a little bit of that, then a little bit of this and we had our signature drink. Well, Coca-Cola has pre-programmed over 28,000 drink combinations with more to come. The cartridges allow for a much larger inventory to be carried than the traditional bags of syrup. Currently the machine holds up to 30 different cartridges that will mix up about 100 drink combinations for you.

The RFID technology gives retailers access to data they couldn’t get before. For example, data can be collected during special events at the restaurant and track exactly what consumers were drinking. The new dispenser allows for new drink concepts to be tested faster in the field and collect data on it. In the unlikely event a cartridge needs to be recalled, the system can be accessed remotely via the network and that cartridge can be disabled.

The technology behind the door is a combined effort with Verizon’s wireless network and Coke’s Data Warehousing systems in Atlanta, GA. They are rolling out these machines in test environments here in Orange County, Atlanta and Salt Lake City.

Have you seen one of these machines and if so, what do you think about it? Let me know.