Dude, the earliest Coke machine concept demo was a year ago:
http://www.nokia.com/news/news_htmls/nmp_980605.html
Then there's the WAP dreams:
http://www.nokia.com/corporate/wap/gateway_case3_3.html
>On a holiday, banking is never your first priority. However, you do
>want to know that all is well. You can personalize your system so
>that if anything out of the ordinary occurs, a notification is
>automatically sent to your mobile phone - triggered by an unusually
>big deposit or bill, a stock reaching a set threshold limit, or an
>unusually good investment opportunity. With one click you can
>authorize bills, check your credit card account and even make secure
>investment transactions on the spot. With a few clicks on your WAP
>enabled phone you can keep your finances rolling smoothly - even
>from the other side of the world.
>
>That, we think, is truly global banking.
So while, no, I haven't heard of actual demos with actual p-cash
getting spit out, I have heard of SIM card Finnair boarding passes,
so it's probably not far off.
It also turns out that there are at least two Indians gunning for
public office in Finland, according to the FINDIANS newsletter:
http://www.netppl.fi/~findians/briefings.html
>Fortnightly non-denominational Christian webletter dealing with
>multifarious subjects as Finland (Suomi), India (Intia), plastics
>(muovi), computers (tietokone), environment (ymparisto), politics
>(politiikka), editing (kielitarkistus), publishing (kustantaja), etc.
>This is the site of an "Apple Macintosh addict"
Rohit
=========================
Innovative vending machine application illustrates Nokia Card Phone's
wide ranging utility
Singapore (June 5, 1998) - Nokia today announced the "Dial A Coke"
concept - a new application for the Nokia Card Phone designed to
extend greater convenience to the consumer. The innovative
application displayed at CommunicAsia '98 integrates the wireless
data capabilities of a Nokia Card Phone with a Coca-Cola vending
machine, and allows consumers to purchase a drink simply by using
their mobile phone.
This new application illustrates one of the many ways in which the
Nokia Card Phone can be used to enhance the level of user conveniece
and efficiency in a wide spectrum of industries including banking,
defense, real estate, insurance, retail, security, transportation and
logistics, telemetry and traffic control.
To purchase a beverage through "Dial A Coke", customers simply use
their mobile phone to dial a phone number indicated on the vending
machine. The drink pops out automatically and the purchase is
confirmed through a short message to the customer's mobile phone. The
cost of the drink is charged to the customer's mobile phone bill. The
"Dial A Coke" concept works with all mobile phones.
"The Nokia Card Phone used in this unique vending machine turns an
ordinary mobile phone into an e-commerce tool. Consumers will no
longer need to carry a pocketful of coins to purchase a drink," said
Janne Jormalainen, General Manager, Wireless Data and Technology,
Nokia Mobile Phones, Asia Pacific. "Using leading-edge technology to
bring greater convenience to consumers is a central part of Nokia's
philosophy."
A "Dial A Coke" vending machine has been on display at the Nokia
Wireless Showroom at CommunicAsia '98 in Singapore. The Nokia
Wireless Showroom is located at Room 207 of the Singapore
International Convention and Exhibition Centre at Suntec City. Plans
are on the way for commercial trials of the unique vending machine to
demonstrate this latest enhancement to customer convenience.
The Nokia Card phone is a GSM phone in a PC Card format. Used in
traditional mobile computing applications, this integrated device
allows a notebook computer to be converted into a wireless office
without the need for a cellular phone, interface adapters or cables.
Slotted into the PCMCIA slot of a notebook computer, the Nokia Card
Phone enables the user to conveniently send and receive data e-mails
and faxes without having to deal with messy cables and different
telephone connection points.
When used in more commercial applications, the Nokia Card Phone also
provides significant benefits to industry. In vending applications,
it allows remote monitoring of the exact number of units remaining in
the machine, allowing for efficienct restocking and distribution.
In the transportation and logistics industry, the Nokia Card Phone
can be used to dispatch jobs and record job acceptance. Security
companies, as well as corporate offices and private homes, can use
the Nokia Card Phone for surveillance and alarm monitoring improving
real time responsiveness to crisis situations. Utilities companies
can adopt the Nokia Card Phone for improved machinery monitoring,
office automation and meter reading efficiency.
Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is a broad-scope telecommunications
company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications
networks, data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and
computer monitors. With sales in 130 countries, net sales totaled FIM
52.6 billion ($9.8 billion) in 1997. Nokia employs more than 38,000
people worldwide.