Cmode is the by-product of an agreement reached in March between Coca-Cola, NTT DoCoMo, and Itochu to explore the possibilities of marrying DoCoMo’s i-mode, Internet-enabling system with Coca-Cola's vending machines. By taking the standard Coca-Cola vending machine and equipping it with a printer, sensor, and speaker and then connecting it to DoCoMo’s i-mode system, the three companies have created Cmo, a Cmode information terminal vending machine. Using Cmo, i-mode users can purchase everything from soft drinks, of course, only Coca-Cola brands, to maps and coupons.

i-mode customers can access the members only services by registering as a Club Cmode member, to earn points when purchasing soft drinks or Cmode services. These points can be exchanged for soft drinks or Cmode services.

• Information Services will allow customers to view or printout maps and coupons as well as Coca-Cola campaign event information by checking the Cmo's built-in LCD display

• Content Services for i-mode compatible phones will allow Cmode members to select i-mode compatible content such as wallpaper and ring tone melodies from the Cmode services, and then download these onto their phones

• Point Service will allow Cmode members to earn points by making purchases of soft drinks from Cmo vending machines or by using Cmode services. These points can be exchanged for soft drinks or a variety of Cmode services

• Advance Payments Services members can deposit funds into a prepaid account on the Cmode server by simply inserting cash into the Cmo vending machine, allowing them to make cashless purchases

• Point Service members can pay for Cmode services through points accumulated on their special membership accounts

• Cash Service allows users to pay for services by dispensing cash into Cmo vending machines

Trials
To gauge consumer response and to identify additional service options, the three companies will conduct a 17-week trial that commences on September 3rd and ends on December 31st. A total of 25 Cmo vending machines will be installed in strategic locations around Tokyo.

If the 570 million mobile phones that NTTDoCoMo predicts are actually in circulation in Japan by 2010, this marriage between the East and the West may just flourish. Since this is equivalent to four-and-a-half handsets for each person in the country, one device is bound to be registered as a Cmode member.