Coca-Cola Via The Paegas Network

• Paegas customers no longer have to pay in cash
• at Coca-Cola vending machines
• The pilot scheme of RadioMobil and Coca-Cola was launched at the Invex trade fair

Robert Nickless, managing director of Coca-Cola Beverages, says unequivocally: "We are pleased to be the first to use this new technique to make our products even more accessible to our customers, who include a constantly increasing number of mobile telephone users. In this way, we are confirming our position as the market leader in the soft drinks market even in the field of customer services. At the same time, thanks to the quality of our services, we continue to hold the leading position in the markets of central and eastern Europe."

Any Paegas mobile telephone user who encounters a vending machine and feels the urge to refresh him/herself with one of the range of soft drinks from Coca-Cola will no longer have to search for change in their pockets next time the urge strikes. In many instances, Paegas customers will now be able to order the refreshment of their choice directly from their mobile telephones.

"Once again, RadioMobil has become the first mobile telephone operator in the Czech Republic to offer, in conjunction with Coca-Cola, a new service that makes life a little easier and more pleasant for our customers," says Tereza Kakosová, press spokeswoman for RadioMobil a.s. "Similar schemes are in operation only in European countries where a very high level of sophistication has been reached in the field of mobile communications. In Finland, for example, payment by mobile telephone is now so widespread that a whole range of services can be paid for by this method: having your car washed, for instance."

The first to have the opportunity to taste a "mobile" Coca-Cola drink will be visitors to the Invex trade fair in Brno. From 4-8 October, 12 Coca-Cola vending machines will be located at the exhibition centre, and from these machines customers will be able to order any soft drink of this brand via a Paegas mobile telephone. They merely have to dial the number 4455, and within 30 seconds the drinks machine will ask the caller to select the drink of his/her choice. During those 30 seconds, the system checks the callers account or credit (in the case of Paegas Twist pre-paid card users). The sum corresponding to the price of the soft drink will subsequently appear on the customers regular monthly Paegas bill or it will be automatically deducted from the credit available on the customers pre-paid card. Each customer can buy up to five drinks per day or 50 drinks per month by this method.

Following the conclusion of the Invex fair, the pilot scheme will continue at 27 vending machines in three cities in the Czech Republic - Prague, Brno and Hradec Králové. From 20 October onwards, it will be possible to encounter vending machines equipped with the appropriate Siemens module and IMA software in Prague, in particular by visitors to Paegas sales outlets and at hypermarkets, but also at a number of university sites. The vending machines will also be situated in Paegas sales outlets in Brno and Hradec Králové. By around March next year, RadioMobil and Coca-Cola should have a better understanding of customer needs and, on the basis of an analysis of the results, plan to situate many more vending machines around the whole country.

"Vending machines with Coca-Cola are only the first initiative alongside a range of similar services RadioMobil wants to offer its customers in this field in the future. At the same time, we will be endeavouring to make life easier for Paegas mobile telephone users in other areas as well," explained Tereza Kakosová.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.