CHICAGO - PepsiCo has its mid-calorie cola ready for a summer debut, Reuters reports. Pepsi Next has only 60 calories per 12-ounce can, according to Beverage Digest.

While the market for other similar drinks hasn??t been good, industry experts say that there may be more demand for lower-calorie soda now as consumers look to indulge themselves without consuming too many calories.

Pepsi could be considering more mid-calorie drinks as well, given that the company ahs applied for trademarks for Pepsi Next, Mt. Dew Next and Sierra Mist Next, according to Beverage Digest. "While interest in trying a mid-calorie version of Coke or Pepsi's flagship brand is high, until we can see that the product can deliver on taste and the company can get the messaging right, we find it difficult to get too excited," said Bill Pecoriello, president of Consumer Edge Research.

Pecoriello said that he would be surprised if Coca-Cola came out with a competing product to Pepsi Next soon. Seven years ago, Coke sold C2, while Pepsi offered Pepsi Edge, both mid-calories choices that only stayed on the shelves a few years.