Posted: 09/1997
Debit Card News
Prepaid Benefits From Momentum
SOLONA BEACH, Calif.--Momentum Telecom recently introduced a prepaid phone card package with options to entice agents, retailers and customers. The package offers commissions up to 37 percent; a no risk, money-back guarantee; a cooperative advertising program; complete retail support; complete point-of-sale materials; and no sales-tax collection.The phone card offers customers reliability and clarity with Momentum's fiber-optic network and digital transmission; no hidden fees or surcharges; multilingual instructions; multilingual customer service; time-remaining announcements on each call; and a 60-second warning before the card expires.
GSM 2+ SIM Card Released
MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa.--Gemplus Corp. now offers a global system for mobile communications (GSM) 2+-compliant subscriber identity module (SIM) card. The card has 16K of electronically erasable, programmable, read-only memory. The GEMX16 card offers storage space for up to 50 telephone numbers and up to 300 short messages. Combined with enhanced short message service, services can be individually activated, tailored and updated over the air without requiring the user to seek out a point-of-sale location.
CWI Prepaid Cards Celebrate 125 Years
VIENNA, Va.--Cable & Wireless Inc. (CWI) has released a limited edition prepaid calling card set as a promotional gift to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Cable and Wireless PLC. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the formation of the Eastern Telegraph Co., which linked London to Hong Kong by telegraph cable and later went on to become Cable & Wireless. Today, CWI is owned by Cable and Wireless PLC. CWI Chief Operating Officer Richard Yalen said, "CWI is very pleased to join the celebration marking the 125th anniversary of those daring steps taken by our founder, business visionary John Pender, who persuaded investors to back a high-risk venture, laying telegraph cable in a sea as wide and deep as the North Atlantic. Since that time, his successors have continued to deploy advanced technology to build CWI's extensive global network." The set features prepaid cards issued by the following Cable & Wireless companies: Cable & Wireless Communications, United Kingdom; Cable & Wireless Inc., United States; Companhia de Telecommunicacoes de Macau S.A.R.L., Macau; Hongkong Telecommunications, Hong Kong; and Telecommunications of Jamaica, Jamaica. Each card has an equivalent of $3 (U.S.) calling time of each country's currency and depicts the company's history as well as current telecommunications technologies.
Vicorp Sells Calling Card Technology
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--Precision Systems Inc. announced that Vicorp, a Precision Systems company, has been selected by Qwest Communications International Inc. to help strengthen and expand Qwest's calling card business. In a contract worth more than $1.8 million, Vicorp's Lydian calling card and prepaid card products will be used by Qwest in its wholesale and retail provision of innovative card services. "Vicorp offers us the best technology and in-depth expertise to broaden our offerings of world-class services in the growing calling card arena," says Tim Forster, Qwest's vice president of network planning. "The ability to create our own multiple services on a single platform enables Qwest to introduce new offerings in ways that let users customize and expand their card use."
LCI Lands $32 Million Contract
MCLEAN, Va.--LCI International has signed a multi-year contract with Bluewater Communications, a provider of prepaid calling cards to independent and chain retail operations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the contract, valued at about $32 million, LCI will provide its long distance network to support Bluewater's prepaid calling cards. This will allow card users to place telephone calls from anywhere in the continental United States and to 230 countries worldwide. LCI will also handle all customer support for Bluewater's cards through its prepaid calling card customer service center.
Harris, Digital Employ Harris IXP
NEW ORLEANS--Harris Corp. and Digital Telephone Systems have announced the Harris prepaid solutions package. The system, utilizing the Harris IXP, provides high-availability, large- capacity debit calling card solutions for single-site and distributed environments. The Harris prepaid solutions package is built around the Harris intelligent media switch and uses the Harris IXP architecture, which supports call control, networking and Internet access. This support is achieved within a single processing platform and has no dedicated slots or forced wedding to a single vendor. The architecture affords scalability in the case of growth and it supports unlimited PINs while reliably handling up to 15,000 calls per hour.
Marilyn-N-Motion
SAN DIEGO--Karis Communications has released Marilyn Monroe prepaid phone cards, Marilyn-N-Motion. The cards features lenticular motion pictures of Monroe taken from the filming of "The 7 Year Itch." Karis will issue 2,500 each of the $7 and $5 cards respectively. Telecommunication services are provided by Teltrust and both cards are fully rechargeable. Karis has also announced the release of a Mountain Dew collectible prepaid phone card in conjunction with Vertical Partners. The increased demand by dealers and collectors for registered trademark licensed PepsiCo Inc. products has created the phone card. The two companies will issue 500 live cards, plus 100 matching test sample cards.
Olympic Medalist Featured
HOUSTON--In a worldwide exclusive prepaid phone card program with Talk 4 Less phone cards and Creative Communications, Olympic Gold Medal-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu will be featured on a series of collectible cards. The first card pictures Moceanu in a numbered photo-collage. The 5,000 cards provide 30 minutes of long distance calling time and a voice message from Moceanu. Also, 500 cards are available as a signed, limited edition and are packaged in a custom-carry piece. The phone card's release coincides with the opening of Moceanu's new gym.
KARIS Commemorates Classic Car & Harley Ride
SAN DIEGO--KARIS Communications has produced a commemorative $10 phone card that features John Carney, pro bowl place kicker of the San Diego Chargers, for the Third Annual John Carney Classic Car & Harley Ride. Over the past three years, this event has netted more than $45,000 for Fresh Start Surgical Gifts Inc., a California-based non-profit organization that provides reconstructive surgery to disfigured children. The Carney prepaid phone card features the place kicker sitting on a rock surrounded by several children who have gone through the program. The card is programmed with 20 minutes of domestic calling time. KARIS is donating portions of the proceeds of this card to the Kick Start for Kids program to benefit Fresh Start.
Communico Supply, Hamilton Reach Distribution Agreement
CLEARWATER, Fla.--Communico Supply, a wholesaler of telecommunications and data transmission equipment, will distribute Hamilton Manufacturing Corp.'s prepaid phone card vending machine, called the Vendor. The machines, which hold approximately 400 cards, feature an easy-to-read electronic display showing pricing and operational instructions. "Vending machines are a natural compliment to the pay phone service provided by many of our customers, especially those with setups in high-traffic areas," said John Lilla, president and CEO of Communico.
LDC Direct Introduces POS Printed Phone Cards
ATLANTA--LCD Direct has begun manufacturing a point-of-sale (POS) terminal capable of printing the entire back of a standard-sized prepaid phone card. Although applications for the terminal are extensive, LDC is initially targeting the prepaid long distance, prepaid cellular and customer loyalty industries worldwide. The LDC system allows phone companies to place an inventory of phone cards at retail locations with no up-front costs. "Our system is a welcome sight to retailers struggling to find a secure and efficient way to sell prepaid services," explained James White, director of technology for LDC. The patent-pending feature of the LDC 384 POS terminal is its ability to print near-laser-quality text and graphics directly onto the back of a PVC, polyester or paper card. All of the information that gives the card value is managed electronically and printed on the back of the card in under three seconds.
Bausch & Lomb Launches SofLens66 Program
MIAMI--Bausch & Lomb recently joined the phone card industry by launching a promotional program for its SofLens66 contact lenses. After calling an 800 number to receive a free trial pair of lenses, customers are given a 30-minute card with the purchase of two six-packs of SofLens66s.
