Calling Card Illusion

This guy cuts a calling card in half and then has it magically reappear in one piece. Watch and listen carefully and you will see his illusion is not as good as it seems.

After he cuts the card you see one of his hands disappear and you hear rustling like he is looking for something on the table (palming another calling card). Then he does a bunch of hand action and you see the cut phone card fly out of his hand.... Good try though!

Phone Card Commercial - Week 6 - An Old One

Just thought I would give everyone a throwback commercial... going back to the early 90s, this was a New England Telephone phone card advertisement.

Prepaid Press Virtual Conference & Expo

I just have one question, who in the world came up with this idea for a prepaid virtual expo?

The Prepaid Press, a regular news paper publisher for the prepaid industry, decided to start a "Virtual Expo" rather than host one in a hotel or convention center. They claim it is a great thing that will allow you to participate, view and contribute at your own schedule. The seminars will be available for days after they have first been conducted and the virtual exhibit hall will also be up and running for weeks.

Call me old fashion but I am partial to actual going to a conference, not attending from my desk!

Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers

VOIP is going mainstream with a recent announcement that about half the Wal-Mart stores in the USA will now be carrying Skype on it's shelves. Most stores will be carrying $20 prepaid Skype Out cards, while some others will also be carrying bundled Skype packages, including 3 months of the unlimited service along with a headset and/or video cam.

Roughly 10% of landline phone service in this country comes from VOIP services but now with Wal-Mart, the retailing power house, VOIP is sure to get more of that market share.

So why not head on over to Wal-Mart and pick up some deodorant, milk, shoes and a Skype prepaid card.

Warning - In State Phone Card Calls Cost More

Just an FYI for those of you using phone card calls within the same state, extra fees will apply on some phone cards. Recent FCC rulings make phone card providers subject to many of the same tax laws as those of your local phone company. On out of state and international calls, you won't notice any changes, but on in state calls you will see a huge increase. For example the at&t phone cards will now charge 5 minutes for every 1 minute in state call. These extra charges are the phone card providers way of paying the new taxes.

Please note that only some companies are charging the increased fees and many others are choosing to eat the costs rather than pass along to their end users.

All in all this ruling is just another step towards bringing us back to a monopolistic telecommunications industry.

Phone Card Commercial - Week 5 - Global BTI

This commercial is a little higher production value than some of the others and takes a new approach to bringing family and friends closer.

Virgin Mobile Going Public

I just read today that Virgin Mobile has started the process for turning the company into a publicly traded entity. They filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week and while the details of how much and how many stocks will be available, it looks as if this will be going forward.

They have long been rumored to be going public but today confirms the rumors. Being that they are one of the few successful MVNOs in the business, I don't see how they can miss with a public offering. I will be in line if the price is right!

Good luck Mr. Branson!

Phone Card Commercial - Week 4 - Mexicanisima

Another Spanish language phone card commercial for the Mexicanisima card from Ibasis.