This show, I was expecting a lot more than I got. The promoter agreed to allow IPC (International Phonecard Collectors) members free admission into the show. Telecard World is coming up this month in Orlando, but in my opinion collector/dealer enthusiasm for this show seems much lower than the last show. When I went to the show, I traveled with my IPC Phonecard, my ticket to admission. Just as I expected, the person at the door did not know about this. Instead of calling over her supervisor (Which I had to suggest), she became rude! I was accused of trying to get out of paying the $4 admission fee. Someone higher up in the food chain talked to me, and said they had no idea what I was talking about. They decided to let me in, but I felt embarrassed and annoyed! After posting a message for all to see, including Bruce Harmon (president of IPC) the situation was straightened out, and staff was made aware of a commitment that was made by the promoter.
Inside the show, the phonecard banner had completely disappeared! So much for promoting phonecards, the phonecard section was in the same area, the far back of the room. The same two phonecard dealers were there, USACards, and Ginnie Katchur. Both had nice booths and good prices to boot, but I was expecting more. There were a few dealers with phonecards scattered around the show, as they sold more than just phonecards. There is so much potential for this show to be a great place for phonecard collectors to be, but so far it is just unfulfilled potential. Southern California is such a large market, and this show is held three times per year. Hopefully more can come out of it in the future. From my perspective, the promoter has nothing to lose. I’ve been to the show twice, and both times foot traffic seemed lower than I believed possible.
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 1997--TeleCard World(TM) and Telecom Reseller Opportunities(TM) '97 Orlando, a major conference/expo exploring the next generation of the deregulated telecommunications industry runs from Feb. 26 - 28, 1997, at the Hyatt Orlando in Florida.
Industry experts will speak at two targeted conferences on new legislation, business trends and marketing strategies. Exhibits will feature new technology and alternatives for the post-regulated age of "bundled communications". The event spotlights several newsworthy issues.
The Sunny Side of Telecards
Recent bad press on the prepaid telephone card industry focuses on instances where illicit companies have sold fraudulent telecards or vanished before consumers could use prepurchased time. The fact is, telecard "rip-offs" are few and far between. The overwhelming majority of telecard issuers and distributors are ethical, stable -- and very successful, as evidenced case studies with Fortune 500 corporations. The legitimate telecard industry is currently a $1.45 billion industry, growing to reach projections of $2 billion by 1999.
TeleCard World '97 Orlando will feature the most successful, imaginative new ideas using telecards to promote, extend and support all types of businesses. Sessions focus on collecting demographics with telecards, limiting agency and client exposure, and international opportunities.
PrePaid Calling Cards, Wireless, and now Dialtone
-- The Next Big Thing
The telecom industry is "catching the wave" of prepaid services, by which a user pays for telephone or telecom services in advance. Prepaid wireless (aka cellular) customers pay a deposit for a mobile phone programmed for a specific number of minutes -- great for those seen as credit risks, companies that want to control their wireless phone budgets, even parents of teenagers!
The newest thing is prepaid dialtone, which amounts to phone service for people who either can't qualify for local service or want to limit their phone bills. With prepaid dialtone, a customer pays a set amount for phone service set-up and an additional sum for the first month's service. The supplier is either a certified reseller of the ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) or a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier). Profits stem from the marking up and reselling of the basic service. This concept is particularly suited for locations like Florida, with large international populations, migrant workers, students, and people with little or no credit.
Topics at the Telecom Reseller Opportunities '97 Orlando conference include the latest business trends and issues in prepaid services as well as international callback, dial-around compensation and a Harvard Business Review case study on a mag stripe prepaid card system.
The Latest and Greatest in Collectibles
Telecards are THE collectible of the 90's, starting with a craze in Europe that has since spread to the U.S. Cards featuring cartoon characters, rock groups, theme parks, retail chains -- the list is endless -- draw big prices, and a diverse set of collectors. They will be at the TeleCard World '97/T.R.O. '97 Orlando Expo -- and so will the HOTTEST new cards, including FREE TELECARDS to the first 500 exhibit hall attendees.
TeleCard World(TM) & T.R.O.(TM) '97 Orlando is hosted by TeleCard World(TM) Magazine and T.R.O.(TM) Magazine, sponsored by ITS, InComm Phone Cards, PCS Telecom, CPDI Inc., PTT Telekom, GTI Telecard, ICMA and Promo.
TELECARD WORLD '97 Orlando CONFERENCE
Hyatt Orlando, Orlando, Florida February 26-28, 1997
Conferences starting 2/26 at 2:00 p.m., concluding 2/28 at 3:15 p.m.
Expo -- Exhibit Hall Open Thurs., 2/27 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Fri., 2/28 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
-- More than 150 exhibits of leading vendors, long distance carriers, resellers, bureaus, promotional companies and related suppliers to the telecom industry
-- New Marketing, Advertising and Promotional Ideas
-- Lunchtime Workshops, including "30 Card-Based Marketing
CONTACT:
MultiMedia Publishing, Houston Paule Hewlett, 713/974-5252 or email: phewlett@mpcshows.com
Virtually on the heels of their first prepaid card for Alaska Airlines, comes Gazelle Telecard’s newest project for Alaska - The Alaska Airlines/Vacations U.S./Mexico Promotional Phonecard. The card can be used for calls between Mexico and the United States originating in either country, and is good for five free minutes of long distance time. It is rechargeable as well. Alaska is making an aggressive effort at educating their customers regarding the advantages of recharging the card, particularly during longer vacations. The card was created to be given away as a promotional reward for anyone who orders a vacations package to one of Alaska’s Mexican Destinations
Issuer: Gazelle Telecard
Printed by Data Manufacturing Inc.
Quantity: 9000 Production Cards, 25 Proofs
Date Issued: December, 1996
Expiration Date: December 1997
Phone Time: 5 Minutes
Contact Vince Porteous for more information about this card at (206) 935-3576, e-mail metalcore@aol.com, or write at Gazelle Telecard. PO Box 24783. Seattle, WA 98124
Dear Issuers and Dealers,
Due to the overwhelming amount of material to be included in the first edition of the Moneycard Collector Catalog, we have postponed its introduction date until late summer. This gives us more time to make sure the catalog contains the best, most complete information available.
Again, the catalog will include approximately 15,000 card listings with more than 10,000 cards pictured in full color. It will be perfect bound and will list U.S. and Canadian issuers of pre-paid phone, debit, transit, and smart cards.
If you have not already submitted card images with information including date issued, quantity issued, denomination, expiration date and time carrier, along with a company profile, you may still do so. The new editorial deadline is March 10.
The Moneycard Collector catalog will be the quintessential reference work for the hobby and the industry as a whole. We appreciate your advertising support. Any additional editorial help you can supply in regards to your company and cards will also be very welcome.
Now available: the limited edition Oreo Phone Card celebrating the 85th Anniversary of America's favorite cookie. Each card is numbered from 1 to 10,000, stores 10 minutes of AT&T domestic phone time and is specially priced at $5(+ $1 S&H per card). The cards are only available over the Internet using our secure transaction system so be sure not to miss out on this wonderful gift idea or collectors item.
...Just point your browser to https://www.nabisco.com/oreophonecard/
The address to where the form and UPC's must be mailed to is:
EKCO Phone Card Offer
P.O. BOX 7872
Maple Grove, MN 55569-7872
From: Jo-Anne Crosswell
Mark Sinopoli and I were the ones who were told that we would not be refunded. Tommorrow we file complaints to the FTC/FCC and the NY District Attorneys office. We are interested in finding other collectors/dealers wish to join us in a complaint.
If your readers have interest in joining us (strength in numbers), please have them contact me.
Gratefully,
Jim Willis
jim@apptivity.com
510-353-4008
From: Paul L. Hanson
That’s all for this week,
Alan
2) Direct e-mail. Send a message to: phoneline@cardmall.com
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