Since the article from the WALL STREET JOURNAL was deleted,
I decided to post it again for reference.
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Wall Street Journal, ÿWednesday, April 22nd, 1998,
Business section , page B7B
Excerpt form the article: Prepaid Phone Cards Ring up Business
ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿSavings, Convenience Has Users Dialing for Services
AT&T Corp., MCI Communications Corp. and Sprint Corp. have introduced their own pre-paid calling card. Several companies that sell phone cards have gone public, including SmarTalk TeleServices Inc. in Los Angeles and Pick Communications Corp. in Wayne, N.J. Others are preparing to offer stock to the public.
" Competition in this industry is fierce," ÿsaid Robert S. Bingham, vice president and chief financial officer at Pick communications. His company which also is a long-distance services provider, signed a two year, $60 million contract in March to provide phone service for Blackstone.
Pick has nearly left the prepaid-calling-card business because its distribution network is smaller, Mr. Bingham said. Now focusing on providing long-distance services, Pick expects sales to at least double to $18 million this year from 1997. |
