Bitcoin Forum

Simple slam-dunk idea for an Internet Cafe:

1. BitPay provides prepaid Bitcoin cards (I mention BitPay because Tony has expressed a desire to produce cards like this)

2. Buy THIS vending machine:

http://www.americanchanger.com/Products/product.asp?ProdID=48

http://www.americanchanger.com/Products/images/AC502.jpg

3. Use this artwork instead (for the face of the machine):

http://en.bitcoin.it/w/images/en/4/40/Bitcoin_vending_machine_example.png

Voila.  Ubiquity.

The supply chain makes its money by providing (for example) only $9 or $9.50 worth of bitcoins (configurable) per $10 card, and $18 or $19 or $19.50 per $20 card.

The buyer receives a dollar-denominated card that is converted to bitcoins using the exchange rate at the moment he redeems the card.  When he redeems it he can send it all to a single address or split it across multiple addresses.

Phone cards are on their death bed, so picking up these machines should be cheap!

Two phone card machines for sale in Virginia, $355 for the pair: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prepaid-phone-calling-card-vending-machines-Model-AC-502-W-Price-is-for-TWO-/170942120180?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ccf1c0f4

Ten of them for sale in North Carolina, $250 or less each: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Phone-CARD-VENDING-MACHINEs-PrePaid-Dispensing-Stand-Novelty-Card-Business-/261128920620?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccc7f1e2c

Were actually working on something similar to this.

Hardware and cards are built, the hard part is distribution.

We're making some deals with companies in the NYC area who have vending machines already and can put our cards in them

Buy Bitcoin without every interacting with anyone!

This is a great idea! No nonsense cash-2-bitcoin.

Doesn't distribution come from entrepreneurs who buy a machine and install it somewhere, and then their job is to keep the machine stocked?

It seems like BitInstant's job would be to produce the machines. It's up to entrepreneurs to purchase them from you.

No, we have a different strategy that saves money and gets Bitcoin cards in more locations.

They key is tapping into already expanded networks. We are like the bag of chips company, just keep providing the product.

Ah!!

The way I thought of it, someone would just need to produce the cards and provide the back-end for the activation.

The machines are already available on the open market for vending phone cards.  See the OP.  Changing the artwork on the machine is as simple as having the artwork printed on the right material.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdR_fHr_6Eg

^^ has anybody seen this prototype yet? Looked super impressive to me. No cards needed, either.

I talked to Playspan/paysafecard/Visa they are all the same. I got all the way up to Vetting with it and it went to the head Lawyer for the company. They said "At this time we can not support this business model of using "Quasi Money"".

No need for the machines or even changing the artwork!


Why would you even speak to those guys lol, they are just middlemen.

Don't need any of them, think bigger!!!!

No machines, no human interaction.... Maybe just no *new* machines specifically for the venture... Are you going to put them in already-used vending machines?

Wait - I think I've got it! BitInstant is partnering with Pepsi to get "Bitcoin Reward" QR codes printed on the bottom of caps. Win anywhere from .000001-1000BTC, or the grand prize of 100 ASIC units inside an enclosure shaped like a car.

... What about CoinStar?

Coin Star works with Rixity I tried to contact them with no luck.

Perhaps multi-sig (simple online activation) to prevent theft?

I can't wait to stand in front of the machine for 30 minutes waiting for the transaction to verify.

Fortunately so few people actually use bitcoin that a line isn't likely to form behind you.  I guess the real challenge is finding a venue that will waste floor space on something virtually no one is going to use.

Seriously, you guys have more than enough ways to spend bitcoins.  Now make something that you can actually buy with them (that isn't illegal drugs or child pornography).

If the cards had a simple redemption URL and bitcoin delivery were made directly from the card provider's servers, waiting isn't an issue.  Typically the buyer would use the redemption site to cause the bitcoins to be sent directly to their destination (e.g. user is depositing BTC into their account) or split among destinations (e.g. user is sending a specific amount to one address and the rest into their wallet somewhere).

I'd use this.

I honestly think it would be better off just printing a receipt with the P-key on it worth (X) Coins. Figure you could program a server to buy coins at Exchange rate. Tack on X% and then print a receipt with the key and info on it and a QR code. This would cut down on custom printing and such, and allow for instant deposits. Those wall mounts look like the stuff I buy tire shine and detail cloths out of at the car wash lol.

what i was thinking:

put a raspberry with wifi and a thermal printer in the box
receive cash
print privkey on slip, pocket 5%

as soon as the wallet reaches < $amount of bitcoins, email is sent to reload

http://www.americanchanger.com/Products/product.asp?ProdID=1

have this machine deliver empty!! casascius coins, remote-load with amount received - x% within a minute of payment.

Duh. Suddenly thought of this while pouring some coffee.

BitInstant debit cards in association with Mastercard. CC-reading machines are pretty much everywhere, especially with Square/etc

BTC->BitInstant Account = instant $$$ on Mastercard wherever accepted (so, with a small fee, you CAN now pay your bills "directly" with BTC)

But... $$$->BitInstant Account = instant BTC in user's BitInstant wallet = BitInstant Credit Union? Surprisingly, probably less hassle going that route.

You could "cash out" of either currency should you choose... Idunno how many people will have their wages direct-deposited into their BitInstant CU account for BTC, though. OTOH, if you do small jobs and have a smartphone attachment for credit card reading, you could effectively be paid in Bitcoins, even while the person you did the work for has no idea what the Hell a Bitcoin is.

This would also imply BitInstant would host online wallets. I wonder if they could get 'em insured. I don't really see why not.... and if a company's going to do that, it'd be BitInstant. This all poses problems for the anonymity-oriented, though.... but not everything needs to cater to them. Worth noting, perhaps, that Casascius coins are extremely useful for anonymity. They'd coexist well. It would be a surreal experience to walk into a 7/11 with BitInstant debit card, and use it to purchase Casascius coins from a vending machine.

Once once the long-awaited paycard is available I'd set up direct deposit to have my wages converted 100% into bitcoins, but only if the BTC were deposited to an address I control instead of being held in a hosted account somewhere.