Cram a couple coins in to the slot, push a button or two, and a cold beverage, sugary sweet, or salted snack drops down to your awaiting hands. Move to the next machine and you can have your pick of SD, Compact Flash, or USB Thumb Drive to eat.

Memory giant Kingston has broken some new ground and opened up a whole new sales market. In conjunction with the Jersey based company MyMemory, the first (hopefully of many) memory vending machine has popped up in London's Gatwick airport. The perfect location if you ask me. You arrive in London for a relaxing two week vacation, digital camera in hand for a little sight seeing. But wait, you've already used up all of the space on your SD card snapping pics of your in flight meal and that really cute stewardess named Betty. You don't have a laptop with you (though Betty's phone number is scribbled on a napkin in your pocket), and you want to take some more pictures. Just find a memory vending machine.

Consumers "want instant access to SD cards and USB drives as they need them 24/7, so vending machines in public spaces was the most obvious solution." said Ann Keefe, Kingston's sales director.

Placed in high traffic areas (like airports), the machines will sell Kingston SD Cards, Compact Flash Cards, and Data Traveler USB Drives to the bit hungry tourist. The machines themselves will use a type of chip and or pin card transaction system (no roll of quarters needed) for payment. Sorta like a pre-paid debit card. If the scheme proves successful, more memory vending machines like this one will be rolled out across the UK, and perhaps even the world.