McDonald's ups the ante in QSR

Launches next-generation restaurants, targeted at the digitally savvy

Fast-food major McDonald's has stepped up its game, launching what it calls "next-generation" restaurants in India, as the pressure to reinvent itself grows in a competitive market.

Westlife Development, which runs McDonald's restaurants in the west and south of India, will make available everything from digital kiosks for smooth ordering to digital menu display boards, free wi-fi for those wanting to be connected to the Net, gaming zones, and cell phone charging points as consumers increasingly demand convenience at fast-food joints.

Westlife will also introduce table service at these "next-generation" stores, in a departure from the principle of self-service that