ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 26, 1996 TAG: 9603260067
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
Just point and touch; out pops a ... phone
ORLANDO, Fla. - Soon you will be able to buy a cellular phone the same way you buy potato chips and soft drinks - by vending machine.
AT&T Wireless Services in Florida said it would begin using an automated kiosk this summer to dispense ready-to-use wireless phones.
A touch-screen video monitor allows the customer to browse through the models and financing options, then processes credit applications. Once a customer is approved, the kiosk dispenses a package containing a telephone, battery charger and electronic adapter for a car's cigarette lighter.
``This is simply breakthrough technology,'' said Pamela Reeve, president and CEO of Lightbridge Inc., which developed the machine, or Interactive Retail Information System.
Initially, the vending machines will be available only at AT&T Wireless Services stores in Florida. But eventually they will operate independently throughout the rest of the country, said Bill Oberlink, president of the company's Southeast region.
- Associated Press
Discovery Zone seeks court haven
NEW YORK - Indoor playground operator Discovery Zone Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection Monday and said it will close several money-losing stores.
The Roanoke County Discovery Zone, which opened on Virginia 419 in 1994, will not close, said manager Teresa Galarneau.
Discovery Zone said it would continue to operate and will use the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which provides protection from creditors during financial reorganization, to remedy problems brought on by a too-rapid expansion. The company said it also would try to negotiate cheaper leases at its stores.
Discovery Zone, which is partly owned by Viacom Inc., said Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone and another Viacom executive have resigned from the board. The company runs 318 stores and franchises another 29. - Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 46 linesby CNB