News

McDonald's trials Internet kiosk Down Under

September 18, 2002

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Seeking to expand the range of customer services it can provide, McDonald's has launched a one-year Internet café kiosk test program at two restaurants in Melbourne.

McDonald's is working with Australian electronic solutions provider ETT Access on the project. Company officials said the kiosk will be introduced nationally if the trial program is successful.

To use the machines, customers purchase a prepaid access card from the McDonald's counter. Each card has an access number that is entered into the computer, which verifies the number and launches the Internet application.

The computers feature Pentium IV processors and high-speed DSL broadband Internet access. They also offer translation screens in German, Japanese, and Mandarin.

"It's a way of adding to the McDonald's experience as well as attracting new customers to our restaurants," David Lloyd, McDonald's director of information technology, said in a news release.