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Response to last issue's plea

I produced a short issue last month saying that it basically was up to you if this publication was to continue. I received quite a few responses, and it looks like there is interest in POL continuing into the future! Thanks for everyone's contribution. This is the final issue of the year, see you all in 2001.

Phonecard Expo Update

According to Peter Novak, who organized the Naples Phonecard Fair, he is looking at offers from two Orlando hotels and thinks in a few weeks the site and the package will be selected. Just like last time, look for a large international presence. Any update on this will be reported as soon as possible in this newsletter.

I'm very happy to see this progress. I believe that it is very important to get a date set as soon as possible. Not only to make plans, but to remove doubt that the event will happen. It will also give everyone time to promote this properly, and hopefully get as many people as possible to attend.

New Zealand News

DESTRUCTION OF TELECOM MAGNETIC CARDS:

Telecom New Zealand carried out their promised destruction of phonecards. These cards had been returned to Telecom for replacement with new "Chip" cards following the upgrading in 1999 of the Telecom card phone to a smart "Chip" based system.

From September 1999 onwards, thousands of members of the public took up Telecom's offer to exchange cards by posting their old magnetic phonecards to Telecom in Christchurch. After processing the returned cards and posting out replacements all the old cards were punched with a single hole and then put back into the original wrappers and then stored in locked plastic bins.

On the 3rd of May, 2000 Telecom arranged for the destruction of these cards by shredding at a commercial security disposal company. To witness this disposal several people were invited along by Telecom New Zealand. Those present were Lester Hotton (President of the Christchurch Phonecard Club), a phonecard dealer and George Calvert (phonecard issuer).

Although exact figures for the total number of cards destroyed are not yet available the total face value will exceed several million dollars. It is also understood that another destruction will take place in Auckland later this year when Telecom's own remaining stocks of magnetic phonecards are shredded.

CATALOGUE:

Now available, a fantastic Catalogue of New Zealand Telecom phonecards from the first issue through to the end of the magnetic cards in 1999. Each card is shown in colour with card print numbers. The price is only $US15 including postage. A real bargain for this quality production. Also shown are cards from the Cook Islands, Pitcairn, Tokelau and Tonga.

NEW ISSUES:

Extreme Sports set. General issue 4 card set issued June 2000, featuring rock climbing, snow boarding and mountain biking. No used sets are available as the $50 card is in very short supply. Chinese Year of the Dragon limited edition collector pack. Only 600

cards were produced. Future Champions general issue set. Two $5, a $10 and $20 card in the set, so hopefully we can get a good number of used sets. This is Telecom's tribute to the Olympic Games.

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

I also have a new email address. It's jdl@jdl.co.nz

Please change any links you have to my site and also your email address book.

TRUE STORY:

In Britain and other continental countries all the local hookers advertise their services in the phone boxes. With the advent of new print technology, these are now so colourful and

eye catching that schoolboys in London are removing them and swapping them at school. The new collectable?

Spain Update

By: Gregorio Jimenez <gjimenez@arrakis.es>

I would like to inform you about something uncommon which is happening in the Spanish market in case you may use it to inform your subscribers. First of all I'd like to say that in Spain as well as in the rest of Europe, phone cards collecting is based mainly in used cards and only a very few people collect mint stuff as the difference in price is in some cases, about one twentieth.

About two years ago, a group of people appeared, buying the two high facial value phonecards with a certain kind of chips in used condition, no matter if they were near mint, very fine, good, fair or pulp, with the purpose of reloading the cards to be used a second time. It seems that they had developed or bought the technology and machinery that enable them to do so. They paid and are still paying up to four times the regular market price for those used cards. This, have caused a distortion on the collecting market and quite a few collectors have given up collecting, when they suddenly were asked to pay 400 pta. for a 1.000.000 mintage, used phone card for which they had been paying the normal price of 100 pta.

The Grinch at the Post Office

Bert (don't have his last name) reports that The Grinch Who Stole Christmas phonecards have been spotted at the US Post Office in Spokane, Washington.

PHONECARD OFFERS

Sam's Club

From: Kathy Rankin

Pepsi and More

a ten minute phonecard. This promotion ends December 31, 2000.

This next bit is not phonecard related, but is prepaid related. AT&T has discontinued its National Prepaid Wireless Program. Any phones activated through November 7,

2000 will continue to work, and airtime cards will continue to be abailable for them, but phones sold AFTER November 7, 2000 will not work. AT&T has decided to only offer prepaid wireless in AT&T specific markets.

From: Dirk Kringen

Sunoco

Sunoco oil refining company an east coast oil refinery has a chain of convenience stores on the same lot as their gas stations called A+ plus that are selling a $25 cash card - same as a credit card with a $25 limit- that can be used at the pump or in the store and for a limited time while supplies last you get a 10 minute phone card with the cash card; in comes packaged in a clear plastic overwrap and the phone card is cardboard with an exposed pin number; let me know if you want to know more

From: Steven Tengood

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

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