Issue 63a. 09/16/00

Summary

-Phonecard News from countries: Austria, Finland, Hungary, Norfolk Islands, Norway, USA

-Other news: Fair coverage

Thanks to the contributors of this issue: Torsten Weller, Andrea Reischl, Dan Deslauriers

-Phonecard Collectors EXPO 2000 a great start.

Naples, Florida on September 9-10 gave host to a truly unique fair for phonecard collectors.

The fair was hosted by the International Telecard Association (www.telecard.org) and MVCards (www.mvcards.com). The show was sponsored by Acmetel.com, Phonecardcollector.com and Moneycard.com

Unlike at other international fairs, phonecard enthusiasts from around the world were able to get to know each other well and make long lasting friendships.
Exhibitors and attendees came from 5 continents and 12 countries. The barbecue on Saturday was well attended late into the morning.

Ways to bring back the North American/International hobby were discussed. There was a clear concensus on the need for a strong collector magazine in English.

Naturally there were big deals made. For example over a half-dozen Chorley test cards changed hands as well as tens of thousands of other cards. Collectors and dealers were able to find a wide variety of cards, including cashcards, test cards and more. 

The fair's auction featured a full CTST chipcard set, uncut sheets, rare show cards and much more. The winning bid for the CTST set went for an amazing $70!

Several unique cards and magazines were debuted and showcased at the fair. 
-The official show card, made by Continental Plastics is sent to all attendees. The card is the official Power of Prepaid Telecom show card, with the logo of the collector fair added to it. Only 200 cards were made.  The card is a jumbo card.  An interesting fact about the card is that amongst the logos and sponsors JDS is listed, which has recently filed for bankruptcy.

-Communications Design Group tested a snow globe phonecard for the fair. Only 250 cards were made. The card is in a see-through pouch, in a clear liquid. There were only 250 cards made, with 5 minutes on each card.
-Lou Kurowski introduced a unique Canadian phonecard for the fair. Only 100 were made.
-9278 Communications debuted its MTV and WWF phonecards for the fair. The entire stock of 100 factory samples/ each design were distributed.
-Capcomm Group, together with KODAK featured a unique motion imaging that will be used for some future phonecards. Capcomm also brought the only phonecard that has been in space.
-Moneycard.com showcased a brand new set of 4 AT&T Moneycard.com cards. A card was given with each purchase over $25.
-Richard Marelli debuted the first Guatemalan catalogue for the fair. 


Phonecard Collectors EXPO 2001
Seeing the success of this year's fair, most probably this expo will become an annual event. The location will be either New York and/or Orlando. We will probably offer a complimentary table to those who exhibited this year. Organization of the fair is starting immediately, so that everyone will have time to prepare and put off time for the show.
The next fair will probably be in Orlando at the end of August or the beginning of September. So see you there next year!

Thank you to each and every one of you for attending and making this a great show!

Picture courtesy of Dan Deslauriers http://pages.infinit.net/onf 

Phonecards from Hungary:

Matav has just debuted its first remote memory prepaid phonecard. The card is available in a 3000 Ft ($10) denomination.  Matav has had a postpaid callingcard since '93, but the so called "Wanderer" card is the first prepaid card.  This move signals the nearing end of Matav's monopoly, which will probably open up the market to many more remote memory cards.

New chip phonecards from Matav:

-PTA has just announced the following card:

250: "Schifahren" -- Telekom AG sponsors the Austrian women ski team
Issue date: Oct 13, 2000
Mintage: 300.000 (initial)
Nominal value: ATS 106 (EUR 7,70)

251: "jet2web 2"
Issue date: Oct 13, 2000
Mintage: 300.000 (initial)
Nominal value: ATS 50 (EUR 3,63)

Mint cards are available from Telekom Austria, pho[email protected]. 

/Contributed by Andrea Reischl, collector/

-The Telenor phonecards have a new logo:

N-188 Narvesen

A new advertising card from Narvesen, one of the biggest distributors of Norwegian phonecards. This card is delivered without a plastic wrapper.
Print run: 200 000. Gemplus (ODS). NOK 40,-

N-187 Red Cross - Call someone you don't know !

Call someone you don’t know’. A co-operation between Telenor Payphone Systems and The Norwegian Red Cross.
Print run: 50 000.  Gemplus (ODS). NOK 90,-

N-185 Human rights

The phonecard is produced upon request of the Council of Europe. It
celebrates the 50th anniversary of the human rights convention of 1950.
Print run: 80 000.  Schlumberger. NOK 140,- '


N-184 MIX

Again we have produced an advertising-card for the chain store Mix.

Print run: 100 000.  Schlumberger. NOK 40,-

P-38 Red Cross - Call someone you don't know !

The Red Cross is giving this card away as a part of their project: ’Call someone you don’t know !
Print run: 6 000.  NOK 48,-

P-37 Help us keeping the fields cleen!

For the first time a promotioncard has been produced for Norway Cup. The
intention is to raise environmental consciousness amongst young people.
Att. P-37 is the first issue with the new logo

/Telenor/

-New phonecards from Sonera

D228 Herring gulls Mintage: 60.000; D227 Figure Mintage: 30.000; D226 Feet Mintage: 30.000

S77-79 is a set of three puzzle cards. Only 15.000 were made.

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The "WPD news" is the free weekly news service of the Worldwide Phonecard Database (WPD). Copyright WPD 1999-2000 PR is from Reuters