From Coins to Prepaid Phone Cards | Generated by AI
Yes! In China and many other countries, public phone stands (payphones) transitioned from coin-operated systems to prepaid phone cards in the 1990s and early 2000s. Here’s how it worked:
1. Prepaid Phone Cards
- How It Worked:
- You bought a magnetic strip card (similar to a credit card) from convenience stores, kiosks, or post offices.
- The card had a set value (e.g., ¥20, ¥50, or ¥100).
- You inserted the card into the phone stand, and the machine deducted the cost of the call from the card’s balance.
- The card could be reused until the balance ran out.
- Why Cards?:
- Coins were inconvenient (heavy, easy to lose, and machines could jam).
- Cards were easier to carry, more secure, and allowed for higher denominations.
2. Types of Cards
- Magnetic Strip Cards: The most common type. You swiped or inserted them into the phone.
- IC Cards: Later, some systems used chip-based cards (like subway cards), but these were less common for phone stands.
3. Decline of Phone Cards
- Mobile Phones Took Over: As mobile phones became affordable, the demand for phone cards plummeted.
- Digital Payments: Even before smartphones, people started using mobile top-up cards for their personal phones, making public phone cards obsolete.
- Nostalgia: Today, old phone cards are sometimes collected as retro memorabilia.
Fun Fact
In China, phone cards often featured local landmarks, art, or cultural themes, making them popular souvenirs for tourists!
Do you remember the designs on the phone cards you used? Or did you ever collect them?