Better Rate Than Never

BellSouth Long Distance, Atlanta, will work with a trio of partners to enter the prepaid phonecard market early next year. The national program will feature a heavy focus on the phone company's own Southeastern U.S. footprint.

Irvine, CA-based Advantage Sales & Marketing will market and distribute the BellSouth Prepaid Phone Card in the Southeast, while Top Sales Company, Charlotte, NC, will handle the rollout nationally. Both components will concentrate on retail marketing through such channels as supermarkets, convenience stores, mass merchandisers, service stations, and specialty outlets.

The telecommunications giant is serving as marketing agent for U.S. South Communications, Atlanta, an independent carrier that will provide fulfillment services for the cards, which will be offered in $10, $20, and $30 denominations.

BellSouth's entry "brings some much-needed credibility" to the prepaid market, said Top Sales president Bill Schaeffer.