NEWS / COMMENTARIES

Publisher's Note

So much for an early July issue. Life has been too busy for me lately it seems. I've traveled to Florida twice, and New York once in the past 2 months. Hopefully things will be calmer in the near future, although my wife has two job interviews out of state, so that hope may note come true! We'll see if I am on the move again. Now, on to phonecards…

Phone Card Fair

Here is a press release I received about this:

They will be a big Phonecard Fair in Naples, Florida USA on September 9 &10. Dealers from USA, Canada, St Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Pakistan and much more. Please take a look at the official Phonecard Expo 2000 site at:

Comments: I think this is a great idea and long overdue. I've spoken to several dealers who are planning to set up there with a lot of great merchandise. I wish I was able to attend, but it does not seem possible at the moment. If there is any place to have a phonecard fair in the United States, it is Florida. I am hoping collectors will make the trip there. I will post a list of dealers attending in future issues of POL.

Current State of the hobby (Brief View)

Here's just a small rant about the state of the hobby. I've spoken with several dealers, and have taken into account my own dealings. While there are basically very few new issues and promotion of the hobby, there are certainly a dedicated core of collectors and dealers keeping things alive in the U.S. - Many of my sales are outside of the United States, but a few new collectors seem to appear. The prices are sure right to pick up some great bargains. I've decided to offer my first auction in over 6 months, and although it just started, it looks somewhat promising. If you compare the numbers to 1995, it would look awful. Given the current state of the market, and activity is good. If you have a chance, e-mail me and let me know about your views on things. Are you still collecting actively, or are you just sitting on your collection and waiting for more activity. I'll publish responses in a future issue of POL

CompuServe Section is now Free!

I've rediscovered the section that got me involved with phonecards - The CompuServe Phonecard Forum. When I first signed up in early 1994, I paid $19.80 per hour for access to this forum (and it was worth it) - I quit CompuServe a year ago because I was only using the service for the forum, and there was not enough activity to justify the expense. Now, access to the forums are free, and it is posting access as well as reading. You need to sign up with an ID, and if you are an AOL user you can use that information. There is no cost to get a user ID. Jim Moran still is the moderator, and a few of us old timers are still posting. Drop by today, and let's revive a great phonecard tradition. You can access the forum on-line at:

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Unocal 76

Unocal 76 Gas is giving away a 5 minute card with fill-up. You could win gas for life or 5 minutes of phone time. When I got the card, a clerk was stapling them too a flyer promoting the gas station (ouch) but I rescued a few before they were destroyed.

Flipalbum.com

Try this album software, and get a 20 minute phonecard

http://www.flipalbum.com/c1/?x=CJAD6

Internet Giveaways

WFNX a Boston based rock station is giving away free membership cards,

From: Peter Novack

Fuji Film

Found at Long's Drugs in Northern California: buy a Fuji film disposable

camera and get a 20 minute phone card for Fujifilm/Seaworld with no scratch

off attached to the back. Camera only cost me $4.99 + tax.

From: John Slovak

Until Next Time,

Alan

Distribution

Phonecards On-Line© is published by Alan Cohen. It is a newsletter devoted to phonecards - Current news, viewpoints, and reviews of new issues.

This newsletter is distributed free of charge, and available two ways.

1) On-Line on the World Wide Web. The address is: http://www.cardmall.com/pol - All back issues are archived at the web site.

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

If you wish to unsubscribe from POL, you need to send a message to the

following address: pol-request@coin-auctions.com

In the Body of the Message: address, just type UNSUBSCRIBE