News and Views

One Year Anniversary (Part II)

Last week I announced that POL had marked its one year anniversary, and held a contest in its honor. I was really overwhelmed at the response I received. I am not talking about just the number of entries, I am talking about the comments that many of you included. They were really great to read, and definitely make it worth my time to produce this newsletter. Now, for the part many of you have been waiting for, the winners. They are:

R. Warner
Ruth Frank
Frank Duzick

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who wrote and entered! The winners should write me with their mailing address so that I can send the cards to them

Telecard World Report

The reports are in about the recent show in New York City, and they are quite favorable. This show has been criticized in the past by collectors because it was portrayed as an industry show, and not meant for the public. Unlike previous shows, it appears that collectors were welcomed instead of frowned upon. Bruce Harmon, a dealer and president of IPC (International Phonecard Collectors) writes: "This year, Telecard World did a big turnaround with regard to collectors. They not only advertised that they wanted collectors to attend but rolled out the red carpet for members of IPC (International Phonecard Collectors), of which I'm the President. If you're a member of IPC and you flashed your membership/phonecard at the registration booth, The Telecard World staff gave you FREE admission to the show AND if you attended on Thursday, you received a FREE 3 day pass! They were very receptive to the idea when I first approached them and they are to be commended for all of their hospitality. As far as the overall show goes, most people I spoke to were very pleased with this year's show."

card From a collector’s perspective, Bill and Janet Broder (A card that they had created recently is available to view on the web site) write: "This show was primarily to promote the industry to the industry. There were not many vendors that were purely selling cards as collectibles. Mostly services, machines, switches, time, printing and assorted other services. There were only about a hand full of private people selling cards as collectibles…When I received my show badge (my company name is Chase Manhattan Bank) show vendors would come over to me and ask what they could do for the bank. I told them that I was a collector and not a buyer - A big mistake. Some people seemed a little snobbish at that point, although I did show interest in their products. I do work in the telecommunications industry and know quite a lot about the services provided."

Although I have never been to a Telecard World show (seems that every time they do a show, I am on the opposite coast!) I will definitely try to make plans to attend a show in the future. Industry shows need to become even more collector-friendly.

GTE Airfone Card

OAK BROOK, ILL. (Oct. 1) BUSINESS WIRE - October 1, 1996--Looking for that perfect gift for the person who's always on the fly? Or something special for a hard-to-buy-for family member who will be traveling this holiday season? GTE today announced it is offering an Airfone Service Unlimited Calling Card for $24.95 per card (plus tax, shipping and handling). With this card, people can use the Airfone service throughout the holiday month of December. "It's a value worth hundreds of dollars," said Mark Schneider, GTE Airfone vice president - marketing. "The card covers every Airfone service feature -- domestic, international and satellite calls, three-way calling, even data connections."

Exxon

Buy $2 of "things" soda, potato chips, even oil, but not gas. Get a free 5 minute card. Card has Tony the Tiger and Exxon logo. Time by Sprint. Cardboard. Also they are selling 15, 30, 60, and 125 minute cards, sealed in plastic. I was in and out so fast that I did not write down the prices, but I think the 15 minute card was $6, and I think the others were less per minute.

From: Roger Streit

Kodak Card

I just bought a disposable Kodak Pocket Saver camera, and it came with a FREE Longs Drugs phonecard...5 mins. The card has a B/W picture of an old Longs Drugs location (don't know where) with a car parked outside. There's a Kodak logo at the bottom right corner of the card. The upper right corner reads, "Longs Drugs 'The Best Store in Town'"

From: Kim Ogi

AT&T Day Runner

My sister bought a Day Runner 4.1.1. Student Planner and inside was a mail in coupon for a free 10 minute phone card. I just received the card and it very nice. It's an AT & T card featuring students on the front.

There is also a phone card available by sending in a coupon and three proof of purchases from Nail Fetish (fake nails and nail stickers).

From: Maureen Toonkel

MCI/Toyota Web Offer

Go to http://www1.toyota.com/camry/offer/index.cgi/ and enter the sweeps to win a new camry. Then follow the link to "See new Camry and get free calling card." You will be given an opportunity to print out a form which you then take to the local Toyota dealer for validation. You then mail the form to MCI and get a free 60 minute phone card.

From: Dick Conoly

JC Penney

JC Penney "Privilege" shoppers received a card in the mail which entitles them to either a free gift wrap or a 10 minute phone card. The phone cards are limited to the first 200 people per store who present the postcard at the customer service desk on October 13.

From: Andrew Henderson

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