No one can say Laser Vend's business isn't going to be duplicated.
The management, in fact, is hoping to do just that - make copies of popular software and vend it through machines to the people who will benefit the most.Through the world's first automated software distribution kiosk, Laser Vend is entering the realm of pop, candy and stamp machines by offering blank disks that can be programmed as the customer wants.
For a few bills, people can purchase any of 2,000 kinds of programs - known as Shareware - in six categories of interest.
You want games? Educational material? Word processing or spreadsheet programs? Maybe you just need some gardening or home renovation tips.
According to Jeff Peery, spokesman for the company newly relocated to Orem from Draper, Laser Vend has it all and will be getting more quarterly.
"What we're trying to do is appeal to the mom-and-pop market, those who don't have access to the Internet where you can get a lot of these programs anyway. We feel we're targeting individuals who want a quality program to run on their possibly outdated equipment."
Laser Vend's machines will write the program selected on the disk size preferred and in the computer language that fits whatever home computer a person has. It will tell the customer whether a sound card is needed, how much memory a program demands, how many disks will be needed and, in some cases, provide a video clip about the software.
The Shareware is already being marketed at a bargain price with a kind of honor system, said Peery, that carries over into the kiosk market.
"These are fully functional programs. There are no crippled or time-bombed programs. You can keep it. If you like it, you'll pay the author for it."
New programs get a test run at the market, and customers get to try out software before they pay a high price for something they may not find suitable.
Laser Vend has evaluated every one of the 2,000 programs it offers and has solicited some programs, like the newest version of the video game "Doom." The average price per program is $5, but the kiosk operators can offer two-for-one and other deals as they like.
Each kiosk is sold sort of like a franchise operation from Laser Vend.
The U.S. Department of Defense just signed Laser Vend to a contract for more than 20 machines to be installed in bases in San Diego and Seattle. Cub Food Stores in Atlanta has ordered 13. Ernst home stores have found the self-help programs extremely popular in its St. George location.
Utah is temporarily out of the Laser Vend machines because the company had to raid the state to be able to supply their immediate orders, said Peery. So, right now, it's tough to find one in the area although prototypes debuted in several Salt Lake grocery stores..
Eventually, a manufacturing facility in Mesa, Ariz., is going to produce the kiosks for Laser Vend, pumping out 45 machines a day.
The 400-pound machines are steel frame surrounded by industrial strength plastic sheeting and T-locked to prevent access to the blank diskettes.
Only disks bought at the kiosk may be programmed with the software inside. That way, Laser Vend can guarantee virus-free material and protect its information.
In the future, the machines will accept credit cards, and then more expensive programs can be offered through vending. "That will also help us track the royalties," said Peery. The machines will ultimately be linked to one another.
Laser Vend's patent on the machines is pending. "We're one of a kind," said Peery. "Our goal is to own 5,000 and sell an additional 5,000."
It took people 10 years to grow accustomed to using automatic teller machines, which are virtually indispensable today, said Peery. "We believe we're just a short ways away from having this huge impact that'll be very much the same."