Phonecards On-Line - Published by Alan H. Cohen

December 20, 1998


Issue 154

Phonecards On-Line is Published by Alan Cohen


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In This Issue:

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This week we are proud to present to POL readers the very first US Remote PhoneCards. PhoneLine USA issued these in late 1989. They have been carefully preserved from that very first day in Hawaii when the technology that we know today as remote phonecards got its start. The cards are of plastic and show Diamond Head near Waikiki. Several types were issued simultaneously and are available as follows: PLU 1: (D1): $5 Diamond Head. MINT $275.00 PLU 2: (D4): $8 Diamond Head. MINT Not Available PLU 3: (D3): $12 Diamond Head. Mint $275.00 PLU 4: (D2): 5 Minutes, Diamond Head. Hawaii Calling. MINT $275.00 The $12 card was made to be the same number of minutes to Canada as the $5 Card. The $8 card was for international calls. The 5-Minute card was made to present to arriving passengers to call home to announce they had arrived. Was there a doubt? We have been actively buying these cards since we met the owner of PhoneLine USA, Mr. Mike Noland at the Richmond Convention in September 1993. We recently purchased this small group; it is the last of a classic. You may order directly: Visit our website for a nice Disney Special or to request our PriceLists at

NEWS / COMMENTARIES

Countdown to FUN

As of today, there are only 18 days until the FUN convention in Orlando, Florida. This is a numismatics convention, but there will be a large contingent of phonecard and SVC dealers and collectors. Information on-line is kept at:

http://www.kars-unlimited.com

A few details about the show are now available. This includes:

Its not too late to make your plans to attend.

PRESS RELEASES

MFBA Kicks Off Industry-Wide Safe Driving Holiday Campaign With Free Phone Call Card

DETROIT, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- ``Friends don't let friends drink and drive.'' Proprietors of taverns, restaurants, party stores and grocers will strongly emphasize this message during the holiday season. To prove their friendship toward patrons, they will give them a free five-minute telephone card to call for a ride when they have had too much to drink. The telephone card is being distributed by the Michigan Food and Beverage Association (MFBA) to its members and various community organizations and other people in the food and beverage industry.

``We are doing this as a community service,'' said MFBA President Ed Deeb. ``This life-saving gift will help our members give their customers a happy and safe holiday season.''

``This is a time for family get-togethers, Santa, bright lights and parties. It should not be a time of sadness because of a drunk driver,'' Deeb said.

Last year at this time, more than 35 percent of nationwide traffic fatalities were alcohol-related, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

There were 558 alcohol-related traffic deaths in Michigan in 1997. Nationwide, 17,000 people were killed by drunken drivers.

MFBA is the largest food and beverage trade association in the state. It has more than 3,100 members, employing more than 35,000 people.

``We want to make this campaign an intrinsic part of the season each year, not just this year,'' said Deeb.

The artwork for the campaign, featuring Santa on his sleigh, was created by art director Tom Holland of Bozell Worldwide advertising agency.

PT-1 Communications Asks Court to Stop Rival IDT Corp. from Copying Its Phone Cards

NEW YORK, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- PT-1 Communications, Inc., the nation's leading pre-paid phone card provider, filed action in federal district court here today charging rival IDT Corporation with trying to deceive or confuse customers by copying the distinctive trade dress of PT-1's long-distance calling cards.

In its filing, PT-1 asked the court for a restraining order that would prohibit IDT from manufacturing, distributing, selling, or advertising nine of its pre-paid long-distance cards. PT-1 also asked for unspecified monetary damages.

A show-cause hearing on the injunction request has been scheduled for Monday morning, December 21.

Specifically, PT-1 asserts that IDT copied the name, packaging, and trade dress of PT-1's highly successful New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, and Maryland/ Washington, D.C. cards in marketing what IDT called its ``New York Exclusive,'' ``New Jersey Exclusive,'' ``Connecticut Exclusive,'' ``Florida Exclusive,'' ``Texas Exclusive,'' ``Georgia Exclusive,'' ``California Exclusive,'' and ``Maryland/D.C. Exclusive'' cards.

The striking pattern of similarities between the two companies' cards, PT-1 said, was designed to trade upon PT-1's established market presence and to make customers think IDT's ``Exclusive'' cards were actually a PT-1 product.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

None found this week.

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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