<<<...In 1976 there was a huge coin shortage in Italy that really set off the use of calling cards. The calling card did not official appear in the United States until 1987 when people started using the cards for convenience when they were on public telephones. The World Telecom Group was the business force behind the early calling cards.
The calling card business was growing faster than anyone had ever imagined. People were making huge amounts of money just by investing in companies that provided calling cards to the world. The novel idea of selling a card to pay for your phone calls was finally beginning to pay off. As the 1980s and 1990s came around the calling card business was booming.
World Telecom Group was the dominating player with the phone card introduction to the US public in 1987. In 1990 New York’s Regional Bell Operating Company launched a calling card campaign with the first non magnetic based phone cards used by dialing an access number and a PIN number to terminate calls.
The calling card became a full telecommunication business playing field by 1992 with all major companies releasing their own brand of calling card. The companies continued to market their long distance services as they were more profitable and easier than trying to convince the public to switch to a new, less convenient service; however, sales for the Plastic Wonders grew to about twelve million industry wide with no ceiling potential projected.
The consumers’ view of the calling card was service “To Go” and at a discounted rate offered by the local long distance carriers. Unlike some of the long distant plans by the local carrier that had different rates for different times, a calling card had a consistent flat rate and could be used from any phone to any phone continental US. By buying the pre paid phone cards, one knew exactly their long distant consumption versus the “hold your breath while you opened the bill” of the traditional long distance service. A Phone card as well offered convenience of not intruding on financial long distance budget of others by using their phone to make calls.