September 21, 1996

Issue 48

Phonecards On-Line is written and distributed by Alan Cohen

Administrative Note

Last week I decided to take a much needed week off from writing, and am now back on schedule for the near future.

IPC Update

From Bruce Harmon, President of International Phonecard Collectors

After months of trying to get the legal stuff done IPC (International Phonecard Collectors) has some news to report. I approved the art work for the *first* IPC members ONLY phonecard this past Friday and we go into production this week. 200 individually numbered cards with 5 minutes of time will be issued. I am hopeful that all members will have the card in time for the Long Beach California Expo because if you present the card at the door of that show, you will receive FREE admission. We are also hoping to be able to offer IPC members some type of discount for Telecard World admission as well for flashing this card. Basically, the IPC members phonecard will ultimately act as your discount or FREE admission to most if not all phonecard shows. Remember, IPC is here for the collector and dealer and with membership that already includes such folks as Sandy Bashover from PCM Report, Klaus Deglar of USA Card, David Michael Eastis of Amerivox (as a collector), Steve Lowenstein of Collector's Advantage, Alan Cohen of the www cardmall, Rick Marsh of NYNEX (as a collector), Jim Wertheimer, Lenny Rapp of Phonecard Connection and many more too numerous to mention, we're all working toward bettering the hobby part of the industry. In time you'll see an IPC newsletter, a www site and lots of other exciting things. In the next issue of Collectors Advantage you'll see a little story about IPC as we start hitting the publications. Membership is only $15 per year and includes the Members ONLY phonecard! If you'd like to join, all you need to do is send a check or money order made out to IPC and send it to our treasurer, Jim Wertheimer at PO Box 632, Miliwood NY, 10546. If you'd like further information, just drop me an email and I'll be happy to help you out.
Bruce Harmon, President

Long Beach Show

Today I had the pleasure of attending the Long Beach Show. Even before I walked in the hall, I knew something was very wrong. It was about 11 AM on Saturday, what should have been the busiest day of the show, and the parking lot was very empty. So empty, that I was able to get a great parking space. I was able to walk up and purchase my ticket without a line, and I walked right into the show. It was divided up into a few different categories, phonecards being one of them. Folks, there were two (yes, count them two) phonecard dealers displaying material in the phonecard section. The rest was empty tables. USA Card was one (Which was nice, as they had made an offer earlier in the week to refund show admission to CompuServe forum members, which I am) and Ginny Kichner was the other. Both had a nice selection, and I purchased multiple cards from their tables. Both also commented that the show was not very good. If the only two dealers in the phonecard section reported the show was bad, then it must have been really bad for everyone. There were other cards available throughout the rest of the show, but overall there was a limited phonecard presence. There were many coin and antique dealers, but it appeared that many of them had just abandoned their tables and went home. It was an easy show to Navigate though, as there were so few customers.

New York, New York

One reason why there were so few phonecard dealers was because of the upcoming Telecard World show to be held next week in New York City. Unfortunately, I will be able to attend the show, but will get reports from people that do and report them in a couple of weeks. Please note that this show is geared toward the phonecard industry. Although there will be dealers displaying at the show, the focus is on the technical aspect of the industry, not on collecting.

B&B Revisited

One show that does focus on collecting is the B&B Show. The first was held last August at the Disneyland Convention Center here in Southern California. Last weekend I was able to see Betty at a local show in Santa Monica, and found out that they are expecting to hold the next show around Valentine Day weekend. Mark your calendars, and join us again in Anaheim. The location of the show may not be at Disneyland again, hopefully more information will be forthcoming soon. I got to speak with her about some of the problems at the first show, I get the impression that they are very aware what went wrong with the first show, and will make every effort to make the next show as problem-free as possible.

US West / GTE News

SEATTLE, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- U S WEST Communications
(NYSE: USW) and GTE (NYSE: GTE) announced today that they are joining forces to provide total customer service for their smart card customers. Beginning today, consumers may now use their U S WEST Telecards at any GTE Millennium(TM) pay phone. GTE customers, in turn, may use their GTE Smart cards at any of the U S WEST Millennium(TM) phones. This is the broadest smart card initiative in the U.S. to date. The U S WEST Telecard and GTE Smart Card are stored value cards

designed for consumers who prefer the convenience, ease and security of using a smart card for their pay phone calls. Smart cards, available in different stored-value denominations, contain an advanced integrated circuit chip. The chip makes the card "smart" and gives it the ability to electronically deduct the cost of each call and then show the remaining value on the phone display.

New Web Site

I received e-mail from Paulo Monte Serrat Neto in Brazil. He has a web site with articles on collecting phonecards, written in Portuguese. For those who can read Portuguese feel free to check out the site at: HTTP://WWW.CPQD.BR/terminais/tp/tlcartof.html

New York Yankees

Just wanted to let you know of another wonderful phonecard set. Went to the Yankees-Jays game yesterday at Yankee Stadium (they lost, but that's beside the point), and on the jumbotron there was an ad for Yankees phonecards. Of course, being a Yankees fan and an occasional phonecard collector, I was really excited, but wanted to wait after the game to see if they were still available. Well, they are sold in the stadium at four different areas: near three customer service booths, and near one of the entrance gates (I think it's gate six). They are sold via vending machines. There are four cards, and four windows in the vending machine each show one card. The four cards are Derek Jeter, Dwight (Doc) Gooden, Phil Rizzuto, and Yankee Stadium. I, of course, got the Jeter card since he's my new favorite Yankee. The cards are $10 and have a color photo on the front. Service is provided by Zenex Communications, and the PIN is uncovered on the back. I do not know the number of minutes, because I haven't used the card yet. Also, Benefits go to the New York Yankees Foundation, which I think works to help schools and underprivileged children in New York. Whoops, almost forgot. The cards are individually numbered of 3500.

From: Chris Inoue

SLSC New Offering

On September 19th through the 22nd, the annual Adirondack Balloon Festival will be held. This is considered to be one of the premier hot air balloon festivals in the world. SLSC has been chosen to produce a phone card to commemorate this event. 2,000 five unit cards are being produced, of which 1,200 are being tagged for the collectors market. Time on the cards is being supplied by Innovative Telecom, one of the most respected suppliers in the industry.

For more information, contact SLSC at: slsc@sprynet.com

Maxwell House

Maxwell House Coffee is giving a free 5 minute phone card on top of its big cans of Columbian Coffee I found it at BJ's Wholesale in New Jersey.

From: Danny Spallone

AT&T / Service Merchandise

The Sunday supplement for Service Merchandise in the south Florida, Sun Sentinal had an offer for a "FREE U.S. Olympic Team AT&T Prepaid" Phone card. It is a limited edition, 20 unit phonecard with both the ATT logo and the Olympic logo on the front with a picture of a swimmer. A minimum purchase of $49 in ATT merchandise is required.

The salesperson at the store said they are a mail in item through ATT and not in stock at the stores.

From: Michael Hersey

Pick the President Entertainment Card

In boxes of Post Golden Crisp Cereal (18oz.) there is a free "Voting phone card". The promotion is called (Nickelodeon, Kids Pick The President " Children can call and vote for who they would like for president. Looks like there are two different cards.

Card is sealed in plastic, paper, sealed in plastic and about 2" x 4" in size. You can also win a trip to Washington DC. Says GTS on back side.

From: Robert "Smitty" Smith

JC Penney Grandparent’s Card

More J.C. Penney!! Received a sale booklet in the mail Monday, on page 22, by an ad for kids clothes, "In Celebration of Grandparents Sweepstakes", register for a chance to win 4 computers, Sept 12-28, 96. At the bottom, it has a picture of a phonecard that says "In Celebration of Grandparents" across the top in colorful print. The rest of the card is pretty blank except for a container of colored pencils in the lower left hand corner & wording across the bottom "Here's 10-minutes of free air time on us...J.C. Penney. Looks like the other side has monthly discount offers on regular priced items The catch is, you have to bring in a photo of your grandchildren to get the phonecard.

From: Rosie Sherman

General Foods

There is a coupon for a free 10 minute phone card from General Foods International Coffees in today’s Sunday ads. It has a different picture than the last one. One proof of purchase required.

From: Cathy Ashbaugh

CVS

Today's CVS Pharmacy ad has a coupon for Finnesse shampoo and conditioner. You can still find bottles of Finnesse with the 5 minute phonecard on them. While the card is still curved or kinked from being on the bottle, I actually got one Friday that came off with the PIN cover intact, in spite of the usual industrial strength glue attaching the card to the bottle.

From: Art Becker

Best Buy / Sony

Today in the Best Buy insert, a free phonecard for buying any of the various Sony products, from a $15 Walkman to a $150 boom box.

From: Art Becker

Computer City

Computer City have a mail-in offer for a free phone card with the purchase of either a SL Waber surge protector or a PC Accessories keyboard drawer. No details on the card except that it is good for 30 minutes.

As an aside, and I don't work for Computer City or any surge protector manufacturer, if you don't have a good surge protector do yourself a big favor and GET ONE! I have seen pc's completely destroyed by a "strike" that entered through the phone line! I'm talking chips that ruptured, exploded, melted, etc. and FIRE. This particular machine was unplugged from the AC outlet at the time.

From: Andrew Henderson

Quicken

Quicken/Quickbooks has a free 30 minute card with purchase of computer checks. There is no additional information on the "QuickCall Card", i.e. carrier... You need to ask for it when the order is placed.

One of my credit cards issued a flyer that the credit card can now also be used as a calling card. There is information on how to activate the card. Rate is .31 per minute, prepaid with the credit card.

From: Joe P. Gutierrez

Tic Tac Opportunity

There is a Tic Tac Free Opportunity to win free long distance phone service anywhere in the US or Puerto Rico for 18 months. ARV is a maximum of $150 per month and a total of $2,700

Send a 3x5 PAPER hand print your name , address and zip.

Tic Tac Free Opportunity
P.O. Box 4385
Blair, NE 68009

Send all entries in a # 10 envelope (Business size) It has to be there by Now. 27, 1996. They are also giving away 10,000 Phone cards for 15 minutes of long distance calls. ARV $7.50

Send same information on a 3x5 Paper to :

Tic Tac Second Chance
P.O. Box 4393
Blair, NE 68009

Second chance entries have to be received by Jan 9, 1997!!

From: Paula Clark

Phonecard for Credit Card

At the beginning of the new semester, some credit card companies come to the campus to sign new members for their cards. And there are usually some small gifts. This time I see a phonecard as gift. Filling a application form for JC Penny store card, receive a free 10 min JC Penny card. The card show 4 young man and women in JC Penny clothes and standing in front of a car. Very nice picture. Phone time by MCI.

From: Lei Zhang

New Sprint Spree

While in a bookstore asking about the new sprint NFL phonecards(they sell the spree cards), I noticed that there were some small folders advertising the spree cards. The folder was given out free upon ask. I asked for one and excitingly, I found there was a free 5 minute spree instant foncard in it.

This card is very similar to the spree card found in General Mill cereal boxes. Comparing with the cereal card there are some difference:

There is no "free sample" on the left edge and "peel here" on the low-right corner.
The color is brighter than the cereal card.
The sizes of some words are different.
The back of the card is covered by a self-adhesive paper. After remove the backing paper, the format of the instruction is horizontal. Not like the vertical format on cereal cards.

I am wondering if there are more such kinds of 5 minute spree instant foncards.

From: Lei Zhang

Until Next Week,

Alan

Distribution

Phonecards On-Line is written and distributed by Alan Cohen. It is a weekly newsletter devoted to phonecards - Current news, viewpoints, and reviews of new issues. It is distributed free of charge, and available two ways.

1) On-Line on the World Wide Web. The address is: http://www.cardmall.com

2) Direct e-mail. Send a message to: phoneline@cardmall.com

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, or find yourself with two subscriptions (It does happen), please reply to the most recent message that was sent to you WITHOUT changing the subject line! - This will assist me in removing your name