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Check Your Oil and Your E-Mail

Get everything from a Big Mac to driving directions from futuristic gas pump.

By Ephraim Schwartz, Infoworld   

Tokheim, the world's largest manufacturer of gas pumps for filling stations, will shortly unveil its newest model: a Windows CE-based pump that displays data using a 10-inch LCD.

Jacques St.-Denis, Tokheim's executive vice president of operations, speaks like the chief technology officer at an Internet start-up, rather than a representative of a 100-year-old manufacturer.

"The Apex System is a joint play of technologies to offer a complete solution to the oil marketers. What is the point of the hardware if you have no solution for the media?" St.-Denis says.

This new kind of thinking at the old oil companies could have a profound impact by giving people an opportunity to interact online. They could use the gas pump as a docking station that turns a car into the equivalent of a notebook computer on wheels.

For example, consumers can ask the pump for directions to any given place, or a salesperson could download the latest company price list just before visiting a client.

All of Tokheim's pumps come configured with modems that connects them to a central server in the gas station, St.-Denis says.

Among the other options is the incorporation of Blue Tooth wireless radio-frequency technology for bidirectional data transport, and transponder chips that allow automatic wireless payment at the pump. Transponders are currently being tested by Mobil in its SpeedPass system. "You go to a dispenser, hold up a key ring, pump, and go," says Rob Randleman, manager of marketing business development, petroleum, and vertical solutions at VeriPhone.

Gas and Burgers, Please

Radiant Systems, which provides the Windows CE-based software for the Apex Systems being deployed by Tokheim, is also working on projects with Chevron and McDonald's.

"We did a pilot with Chevron and McDonald's at a cobranded site," says Mark Haidet, vice president of solutions at Radiant.

Customers were able to order a Big Mac while pumping gas, pay one bill, and have the burger delivered to the car. Another pilot program allows customers to use a touch screen to order groceries from the in-station convenience store and have them delivered as well, Haidet says.

Other pilot programs include downloading e-mail messages, pager messages, or even coupons at the pump printed on the receipt and redeemable for a cup of coffee at the local Starbucks.

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