Page "Telephone card" Paragraph 11

The first public pre-paid remote memory phonecard was issued in the United States in December 1980 by Phone Line.

As telecom industries around the world became deregulated, remote memory cards were issued in various countries.

Remote memory phonecards can be used from any tone-mode phone and do not require special card readers.

Since remote memory cards are more accessible and have lower costs, remote memory phone cards have proliferated.

However, the utility of these cards is reduced due to the large number of digits that need to be entered during usage.

To call a long distance number, the user first dials the local access number, then keys in the secret code, followed by the actual long distance number.

Based on the long distance number entered, the time remaining on the card is announced, and the call is finally processed through.