The column run by Oleg Syromyatnikov.

First telephone cards appeared in Rostov-on-Don in 1997. Two telecommunication companies use them: "Rostov-on-Don city telephone network" and "Rostov-on-Don long-distance telephone station". They work separately so we tell about each one.

Cards of this company are used for local calls. The first series was issued in the beginning of 1997. Nominal of cards 10, 20, 30 and 50 units. They all have the same design, only quantity of units changes. On the face side there is a logo of the company, serial number and nominal. The rules of card’s using and advertising of "Bee-Line" branch are placed on the back side. Chips also can be different - rectangular and round form. First lot of these cards was issued 10000 pcs in whole. During the year the rest were printed.

In may 1998 a new series of cards was issued. As it was before all cards have the same design. On the face side there is a Cathedral of Our Lady birthday, advertising of "CDMA" company, rules of cards using, nominal and serial number. The photo of building and logo of the company are on the back side. The series was issued in 25000 pcs. The cards of second series printed offset. All cards are printed in S.-Petersburg in "Tariff" factory.

These cards are used only for long-distance calls. 158 payphones made in Dutchland can be found not only in Rostov-on-Don but also in its province. First cards appeared in January 1997. They were made in France by "GEM PLUS".

This series has three cards:

1. Nominal 50000 rubles. A place called "Rostovskii Petergoff (1936) on Theatre Square" is on the face side. A fountain is a diploma work of famous sculptor Vuchetich, who in 1936 graduated from artistic school and got the highest mark for his diploma work. Quantity - 60000 pcs.
2. Nominal 100000 rubles. On the face side - Academical theatre of drama named by M. Gorky (before 1936 - named by Lunacharsky). It is also situated on the Theatre Square. Quantity - 30000 pcs.
3. Nominal 150000 rubles. On the face side we see Rostovsky Cathedral of Our Lady birthday (old cathedral). It was built in 1860 by the project of architect Ton. Quantity - 10000 pcs.

In connection with denomination of ruble, usage of cards with non-denominated nominal was found inconvenient that’s why it was decided to issue cards without indication of rubles’ nominal.

In April 1998 one card with 250 units nominal from the second series was issued (its price 25 rubles). On its face side there is a sight of city centre from the left side of Don-river. A stella on the Theatre Square dedicated to Rostov-on-Don liberation in 1943 and TV-building can be seen here. The back side has the same design as cards from 1st series. Quantity - 100000 pcs.

It is necessary to say that now telephone cards do not have success at customers. It may be connected with the fact that still payphones which accept coins are used.

Starting from May 1998 a new series appeared in Irkutsk city. An operator of local telecommunication - "Electrosvayaz" company. All cards have the same design (difference only in units). For the first time there is a photo of town. On its face side there is a Spasskaya church (1706-1710) by M.Dolgich. It is the most ancient building which kept safe in our days. On the back side there is a list of useful telephone numbers and indication of units.

The cards were made in S.-Peterburg by "Tariff" in the following quantity:

• 50 units - quantity 600 pcs
• 75 units - quantity 600 pcs
• 100 units - quantity 600 pcs
• 150 units - quantity 500 pcs
• 200 units - quantity 400 pcs
• 250 units - quantity 300 pcs

First cards-payphones appeared in Samara in 1996. As it was in others towns this innovation was not immediately approved by customers. Many of them thought that this service can be convenient only for rich people. Time showed that it is moderate for everyone.

But still there is only one operator in Samara - "Svayazinform" company. Cards can be used both for long-distance and international calls. They are also made by "Tariff" (S.-Petersburg).

All cards have the same design: a violet city on the face side and "Samarsky telegraph" advertising on the back side. Cards have nominal 10 and 20 units. Besides they differs in chips and nominal way of writing.

First issue 1996.

First cards were issued without indication of units; operators did this work themselves. Figures have gold colour. Nominal: 10 units, 20 units, without indication of units. Total quantity of first issue 5000 pcs. Silver Chip is round.

Second issue 1997.

Cards have the following nominal.

• 10 units (round silver chip), quantity 30000 pcs.
• 10 units (rectangular gold chip), quantity 6000 pcs.
• 20 units (round silver chip, "20" has a violet colour), quantity 6000 pcs.

This series is the copy of second issue, but it has another chip. Here must be added that they will continue to issue cards with different chips (it depends on which they have in store).

In May 1998 30 and 60 units were issued.

Every lot has difference in violet colour (from dark to light).We will not consider them as different cards, because such things connected with non-regulated printing process.

Defective cards are very rare but still due to some mistakes they can be found among customers. In conclusion we would like to ask "Svayazinfrom" to place not only the same picture of city but also its different sights. It is worth to take something from famous transport medals of Samara.

Payphones and magnetic telephone cards of Italian company "URMET" are used in Krasnoyarsk. Still there were issued only 2 series of telephone cards.

The first series of 1997 has 2 cards of 25 units (30000) and 50 units (15000). Face side is usual for "URMET" company: here are rules of using, nominal and units expenses. Such design is usual for many telephone cards in other towns of Russia.

On the back side of these cards there is a payphone of "URMET" and address of "Electrosvayaz" of Krasnoyarsky region. Now all these cards are sold out and it is possible to find only used cards (with broken corner).

The second series of 1998 has 5 cards with nominals 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 units. Their cost respectively: 6, 15, 30, 60 and 120 rubles. The face side has the same design as the previous series, only colour of the line where "Telephone card" written changes. On the back side there are sights of Krasnoyarsk.

• Left side of the Enisey river can be seen on 10 units card. It is so-called "Arrow" - beginning of 3 main streets: Mira avenue, Marks street, Lenin street
• The building of Rechnoy station is on the 25 units card.
• On the 50 units card a central part of old city is represented - Mira avenue (formerly Voskresenskaya)
• n 100 units card shows "Kommunalny" bridge.
• n 200 units card represents a chapel on Pokrovskaya mountain.

In 1997 in Kazan appeared first telephone cards. They are not wide spread because there are only 3 payphones in town: on the Railway station and on 2 telephone station.

First series consists of 3 nominals: 30 units (35000 pcs), 50 units (25000 pcs) and 100 units (8000 pcs). All these cards have the same design and they differs only in number of units.

Cards manufactured by "G&D Znak Card" (Perm city).

The name of local connection operator "Kazan international telephone station" and information with new telecommunication services is on the back side. Appearance of face side reminds Tomsk telephone cards made by the same manufacturer.

Back side represents the Kremlin of Kazan. It was built in 16 century and reconstructed in 17 and 19 centures.

The second series: 30, 50 and 100 units have the same back side but its face side is different. Here is some advertising of telephone company services. The cards are made at the same factory in Perm.

Comstar Telecommunications Contacts: E-mail: card@comstar.ru	Moscow, Dmitrovsky per. 3 bld.1 Tel: (7-503 or 095) 956-0000 Fax: (7-503 or 095) 956-0707