Vodafone to sell phones like Coke

Vodafone has taken a lesson from the likes of Cadburys and Coca-Cola and will now be selling some of its pay-as-you-go products through vending machines.

Each QuickPhone box will offer a choice of three phones for sale, for between £30 and £60, as well as SIM-only packs for £5.

The first two of the machines will be put up in Vodafone stores in Manchester, the company told silicon.com. If all goes well the operator will look to expand the scheme to other locations, potentially including airports, ferry terminals and shopping centres.

The phone vending machines will be monitored via a 3G connection or GPRS where 3G is unavailable. The machines will be able to report stock levels and provide alerts if they have been tampered with.

Tom Devine, Vodafone's head of retail, said the vending machines are aimed at foreign visitors to the UK, those who need a phone in an emergency and "customers who know what they want and want to get the product as quickly as possible".