Although this show is being marketed as a trade show and not a collector show, if you are geographically located near the Chicago area, it may be worthwhile to attend. There won’t be any collector activities, unfortunately, but a number of collectors and dealers will be there. The admission fee is $15 per day, but if you are a member of IPC (International Phonecard Collectors) a one day pass is provided with your membership to that organization.
In conjunction with the show, there will be a charity auction run by the ITA. Unlike previous auctions, which were only open to those who attended the shows, the current auction is open to all! It is a very large auction, and unfortunately too large to publish here. However, the entire auction will be available at the ITA web site starting Monday, March 31. That site is located at http://www.telecard.org. Additionally, there will be a link from The Card Mall as well to the auction. Be sure to check that auction out, you won’t want to miss it.
If any readers of this newsletter attend the show, any show reports would be appreciated by the editor! For those going, enjoy the show.
Plastic Fantastic on the Web - http://www.telecom-phonecards.co.nz
Phonecard enthusiasts should prepare for some awesome surfing on the new Telecom New Zealand phonecards web site unveiled in Auckland today.
Among its features the site boasts a full visual catalogue of every Telecom Phonecard every produced, an online shop allowing browsers worldwide the opportunity to purchase new phonecard releases and a bulletin board on which site visitors can buy, sell, trade or simply contact other collectors.
The new web site has been prepared by Telecom Payphones in conjunction with new media gurus, Terabyte Interactive. Six months in the making, the site is comprised of seven key sections each accessed through a dynamic welcome page.
"These pages will open an international door to the world of New Zealand phonecards," says Telecom Payphones National Manager, Bruce Buddicom.
"In New Zealand we have some 11,000 known PhoneCard collectors but across the world, millions of people are involved in the hobby. Never before have we been able to showcase our product to a global audience in such a timely and dynamic way.
"It’s exciting to think a collector in Hong Kong, for example, could tap into our site to find out the details of a New Zealand card from their collection. And it doesn’t stop there - the site contains a wealth of information about our business which will be available to a global audience - 24 hours a day, seven days a week".
According to Terabyte Interactive Executive Producer, Arlene Susmilch, the Telecom New Zealand phonecard site looks to be a first in the world.
"In developing the site we explored the Internet extensively and failed to find a telephone card site like it. We really are entering into a new electronic era for this market."
Incorporated in the design are many of the suggestions received from collectors around the world who took part in an online survey during the construction phase. Hundreds of replies poured in from around the globe - from as far afield as Croatia, the United States and Asia.
Telecom Payphones Marketing Communications Manager, Sheryl James, says the Internet provides the ideal sales and marketing mechanism for the phonecard product.
"We have a global audience and a dynamic and visual product," she says. "Our customers will also benefit from having the latest information as new phonecard releases occur."
For further information contact :
Sheryl James
Marketing Communications Manager
Telecom Payphones
Telephone : 64 9 486 9209
Facsimile : 64 9 489 9912
Pager : 026 111 776
e-mail: sheryl.james@telecom.co.nz
I'm a physician in Tampa who became interested in phonecards 2 years ago when I spotted them at a baseball card show. One of the dealers, Bobby G. explained to me what they were and I became hooked. I later had the fortune of meeting Kathy and Scott Shapiro and added a number of excellent cards to my collection which now numbers over 1200. As a previous baseball card collector, who has no idea what happened to his early 60's Topps sets, I hope to see the phonecard hobby take off as baseball cards did, and by my election to the ITA Board, I hope to be able to shape it's future in some small, but significant way.
Lubin can be contacted at: Dajalu@aol.com
SmarTalk manufactures and distributes prepaid long-distance calling cards in addition to other enhanced telecommunications services and currently maintains distribution agreements with nearly 9,000 storefronts, including Office Depot, The Good Guys, Staples, Service Merchandise, Best Buy, Jewel/Osco Combo Stores, Osco Drug, Sav-On Drug, OfficeMax, Bradlees, Marshall Field's, Robinsons-May, Builders Square and Venture Stores, among others.
The study entitled "Prepaid Cards and Calling: From Frenzy to Focus," outlines growth trends in four prepaid calling market sectors: Affinity/Advertising/Promotion (AAP), Minute (Wireline), Prepaid Cellular, and Collector/Souvenir.
The study also reports that 15.5 percent of U.S. households have used a prepaid calling product in 1996, as compared to 10 percent one year ago. Additionally, the study concluded that the concept of prepaid calling has moved from a novelty to an accepted method of payment for communications services and projects that the industry will reach $2.6 billion by 2001. SmarTalk was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Los Angeles.
MARCH 20, 1997 (615) 242-7747
KNOXVILLE, TN- A special collectors phone card featuring Governor Don Sundquist and an historic image of the Tennessee State Capital was donated by Strategic Telecom Systems (STS), to benefit the Tennessee State Museum at their annual fund-raiser, A Tennessee Waltz, which is held Saturday in the State Capital. STS is a leading nationwide distributor of pre-paid long distance telephone services.
Governor Don Sundquist, the host of the event, makes a special audio appearance on the card to encourage visitation to the Tennessee State Museum and the State Capital. In addition to making a long distance call, users may schedule a walking tour of the Capital, receive information about the museum and the museum's store, and join the non-profit Tennessee Museum Foundation.
"Governor Sundquist emphasizes the importance of the state museum and the benefits it provides to Middle Tennesseans and citizens statewide", said Rick Catinella, STS executive and producer of A Tennessee Waltz card.
"As we move forward towards the 21st century, the State museum will actively seek to reach potential visitors through the latest marketing techniques. The STS- produced A Tennessee Waltz card is a perfect example of the type of communication opportunities that the museum plans to use in the future," said Lois Ezzell, the State Museum's Director. Only 500 of the limited edition collectors cards were produced. Each card contains 15 minutes of free long distance calling. The bulk of these cards were distributed to the guests of the $1000 a couple event. The remaining cards were donated to the museum for future fundraising activities.
The card features an artist's rendition of the historic State Capital on the front. It is presented in an elegant display carrier that contains the history of the Tennessee Waltz event.
STS, which has more than 150,000 sales representatives operating throughout the 50 states, expects to top $200 million sales this year. STS has sold more than 350 million minutes of long distance time.
In addition to prepaid long distance cards, the company's varied product line includes PhoneTimeTM greeting cards, prepaid cellular service, paging service, satellite TV, home theater systems and direct dial long distance phone service for homes and businesses.
From: Dave Gilroy
From: Dave Gilroy
Until Next Week,
Alan
2) Direct e-mail. Send a message to: phoneline@cardmall.com
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