newsbytes@clarinet.com (01/18/90)
HONOLULU, HAWAII, U.S.A., 1990 JAN 12 (NB) -- Americans like to call with credit cards and pay later. Japanese prefer prepaid phone cards used in special phones. With increasing numbers of Japanese coming to Hawaii, GTE Hawaiian Tel will now do it their way, with the islands' first prepaid telephone-card service. The cards are used in specially designed "telephone- card" telephones. The telephone card will cost about $20 for 10 units of calling time with rates determined by the country called and the time of day the call is made. It's a bit thinner than an American credit card, with a magnetic stripe on the back. The customer buys the card, then inserts it into the telephone-card telephone before dialing. The telephone records the call's length and adjusts the remaining balance of units accordingly. The telephone cards can only be used to make international long- distance calls originating in Hawaii and will be distributed through travel agencies and hotels. GTE Hawaiian Tel will introduce two standard international telephone-card designs. Each will have color illustrations of Hawaiian landmarks -- Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head in the background and a panoramic view of Hanauma Bay. Initially, GTE will install 20 telephone-card phones between Jan. 5 and 15 at several Waikiki locations including the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, the Ilikai, and some Sheraton Hotels. The phones will be in service on Jan. 16. GTE plans to install 50 telephone-card phones in Hawaii by the end of the year. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900116/Press Contact: Carrie Hyun, GTE, 805- 546-4836)