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From: henry@GARP.MIT.EDU (Henry Mensch)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: my new FONCARD
Message-ID: <8709260649.AA03053@garp.mit.edu>
Date: Sat, 26-Sep-87 02:49:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: garp.8709260649.AA03053
Posted: Sat Sep 26 02:49:50 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Sep-87 11:47:41 EDT
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Approved: telecom@buit1.bu.edu

US Sprint is my primary long distance carrier, and they are offering a
new type of calling card called a "FONCARD" (with a bar over the "O").
The card is rigid, silver in color, with black and red print.  My name
and number are embossed on it (the number has fourteen digits in two
groups of three followed by two groups of four.  this number bears no
obvious relation to either my US Sprint account number nor my
telephone number).  The card is a shiny silver, which means it gets
covered with unsightly fingerprints as soon as you remove it from the
bit of cardboard it is attached to.  

On the back of the card are instructions for use on tone phones, and a
magnetic strip (similar in appearance to those on the back of bank
credit cards).  

The directions on the back indicate to me that it works just like
their old-style travel service (whatever it was called).  The only
difference I can see is that you always call an 800-number (instead of
a local access number).

Does the strip on the back of the card mean this card will be useful
in existing telephones which can read such magnetic stripes?  

Now, is there any sort of usefulness this card is good for that I've
missed?

# Henry Mensch / <henry@garp.mit.edu> / E40-379 MIT, Cambridge, MA
#      {ames,cca,rochester,harvard,mit-eddie}!garp!henry