Verizon Abandons Calling Cards

We reported that AT&T got out of the payphone business last year. Well Verizon is getting out of the Calling Card business this year.

Applicants: Verizon California Inc., Verizon North Inc., Verizon Northwest Inc., Verizon South Inc., and GTE Southwest Incorporated (d/b/a Verizon Southwest)

On May 21, 2008, Verizon California Inc., located at 112 Lakeview Canyon Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; Verizon North Inc., located at 8001 West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46804; Verizon Northwest Inc., located at 1800 41st Street, Everett, WA 98201; Verizon South Inc., located at 201 N. Franklin St., One Tampa City Center, Tampa, FL 33602; and GTE Southwest Incorporated (d/b/a Verizon Southwest), located at 600 Hidden Ridge, HQE04H12, Irving, TX 75038 (collectively Verizon or Applicants), filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) requesting authority, under section 214 of the communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 214, and section 63.71 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.71, to discontinue the provision of certain domestic telecommunications services in Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, areas of Pennsylvania within Verizon North Inc.’s operating territory, and areas of Virginia within Verizon South Inc.’s operating territory.

Anyone who is an insider knows that the areas affected are fGTE territories. Is this a big shucks in the telecom industry? Eh, not really. The cards were designed as a convenience factor in support of pay phone use. (I know, I was on the design team.) We of course know where the pay phone biz has gone in the era of cell phones.

FCC filing here.