Soft-drink giant envisions kiosks that offer utilities

The Coca-Cola Co. plans to erect 150 kiosks in 20 countries that will offer water, electricity and Internet connections. They also might sell Coke and other products.

“We’re calling it a downtown in a box,” spokes­woman Serena Levy said.

Right now one such kiosk exists, a pilot version in Hei­del­berg, South Africa. It is a shipping container with solar panels for power, a satellite dish for wireless communication and a Slingshot water distiller designed by Dean Kamen, the Segway inventor.

Soft-drink companies are often accused of contributing to the obesity epidemic, and Coca-Cola has been criticized for expanding its line of sugary products into poor countries where nutrition is subpar and dental care is lacking. Coke executives have countered that their bottling plants supply clean water and small entrepreneurs make money selling their drinks.