Phonecards On-Line - Published by Alan H. Cohen

October 25, 1998


Issue 146

Current Circulation: 3,000+


Phonecards On-Line is Published by Alan Cohen


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In This Issue:

Check out the latest phonecard auctions on Ebay. Visit Ebay at: http://www.cardmall.com/ebay

NEWS / COMMENTARIES

CompuServe Telecard Forum

It seems that free access to CompuServe’s Telecard Forum has been reactivated. To visit the oldest on-line forum for phonecard collectors, simply visit http://go.compuserve.com/telecard

Access to non-forum members is limited, but it is still worth visiting and reading messages (over 200 available when I last visited), or accessing the library of files (hundreds) James Moran is the section leader, he can be e-mail at 105247.765@compuserve.com with any forum related questions.

Illinois Lottery Card

According to the October 1998 issue of Telecard World, Ameritech has collaborated with the Illinois lottery to offer free lottery tickets with the purchase of a phonecard. A $10 phonecard receives a $1 ticket, and a $20 phonecard receives a $2 ticket. If this were available in California, I would be playing the lottery more often than I do.

PRESS RELEASES

Prepaid Retail Exceeding $3 Billion in 1998 in the United States

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 1998--``As the telecommunications market evolves, prepaid and smart cards will increasingly become substitutes for traditional calling cards.'' That is one of the major findings of ``Calling and Prepaid Cards: Market Dynamics and Forecasts 1998 - 2002,'' a 200-page report just released from Atlantic-ACM, Boston, MA.

``For the first time, 1997 revenues for the carriers from retail sales for prepaid calling cards were higher than revenues from promotional calling cards,'' says Judy Reed Smith, CEO of Atlantic-ACM. The four markets for prepaid calling cards are promotional, retail, collectible, and fundraising.

Comments Judy Reed Smith, ``The size of the US marketplace for all prepaid and smart cards has grown from $12 million in 1992 to $2.2 billion in 1997 to $3.2 billion in 1998. Prepaid cards have been given away for promotion, teaching US consumers how to use them. With this knowledge, consumers are buying prepaid cards at retail as a convenience and as a budgeting tool.''

``Calling and Prepaid Cards: Market Dynamics and Forecasts 1998 - 2002'' provides advanced information about new payment card networks, ways to increase consumer acceptance, the anticipated rates of growth of different types of prepaid cards, partnerships that are most likely to be successful, ways to differentiate prepaid products through enhanced services, and projections of prepaid calling card sales through 2002.

BCE Mobile announcement/prepaid cards

(Full text of press release from Canada NewsWire) Bell Mobility Enhances Prepaid Service

TORONTO, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - ``Bell Mobility is expanding its popular Prepaid service line to include competitively priced Digital PCS Prepaid. In addition, we are eliminating the daily access fee on all Prepaid service,'' announced Randy Reynolds, Bell Mobility President and COO, today.

``The overwhelming success of these services demonstrates that Canadians are responding to our competitively priced, innovative wireless services that meet their personal or business communications needs,'' he said. ``This positive response by consumers bodes well for Bell Mobility, a company that places a great deal of emphasis on introducing innovative and competitive wireless communication services that make a difference for Canadians.''

Retailing at $129, PCS Prepaid includes a Motorola or Qualcomm single-mode PCS digital phone and a $30 Prepaid account credit that can be applied to local, North American and international long distance wireless calls -- an airtime combination not available from any other Canadian wireless carrier offering prepaid services. Digital PCS Prepaid will be available on November 2nd.

Digital PCS Prepaid customers pay $0.35 per minute for airtime and, an additional $0.35 per minute for North American long distance. International calls can be made at Bell Canada International rates. Retailing at $129, Analog Prepaid includes a Motorola MicroTac 650e flip phone and a $50 Prepaid account credit that can be applied to local, North American and international long distance wireless calls.

There are no daily fees for the Analog or Digital Prepaid service. Prepaid Service cards are available in $25 and $50 denominations at Bell Mobility dealers and retailers. The cards expire 90 days after they have been loaded into the customer's account.

Each time a customer makes or receives a call, the cost of the minutes used is automatically deducted from the Prepaid account. A customer can top up their account at any time using a Prepaid Service card. Once a card has been deposited in an account, the total account balance is now valid for another 90 days. Customers dial 321 from their Prepaid phone and input the Card number to top up their account.

Standard Register Prints and Packages Prepaid Phone Cards for National Processing Company

DAYTON, 0hio, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Register has been awarded the printing and packaging business for two new prepaid phone cards from National Processing Company (NPC). The cards are used by NPC in direct mail pieces and serve as an incentive for prospective customers to fill out a survey. Worldcom and Unitel provide long-distance services for the ten-minute cards.

``These cards feature the type of unique applications that are driving the continued growth of prepaid phone cards,'' said Dave Fehrman, general manager of Standard Register's Imaging Services Group. ``We're pleased to be a part of NPC's interactive and promotional card programs.''

``We were looking for ways to increase survey responses and make sure prospective customers didn't forget about NPC,'' added Brenda Salinas, NPC marketing specialist. ``Prepaid phone cards offer perfect solutions to both of those objectives.''

NPC distributes the cards through trade shows, direct mail and customer visits. Cards also go to current customers to thank them for their business.

PROMOTIONAL OFFERS

Mickey’s Funline Card

Purchase any Mickey Mouse merchandise from Sears, and receive a Mickey’s Funline Card, featuring one story. It’s not a prepaid card, but it looks like one, and it is Disney.

Until Next Time,

Alan

Distribution

Phonecards On-Line is published 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 - All back issues are archived at the web site!

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

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