WORLD PAYPHONES- AUSTRALIA

Australian Public Telephone units

Name CREDITPHONE (also known as cardphone)
Maker Alcatel/STC
Date introduced in 1987, phased out 2004.

gallery






notes
These phones are very interesting. The phones require a EFTPOS/Credit or Telstra calling card to be swiped through the card reader before the call is placed. These phones have two keypads, one for dialing the other for banking account information such as PIN and account type. They have two phone lines connected to them. One is for voice the other for data. The data line is used to verify the PIN number and account details of the person placing the call. A test code can be used on these phones to display : - CARD CALLS - CARD METERING PULSES - SERVICE CALLS This code will not work if the phone is out of order and is displaying the message "service calls only" on the display screen. The credit phone has a series of numbers programmed into it that are regarded as "service calls" these numbers include 013, 1100, 000 etc. When "confused" these phones will display the message "System Fault". I believe the Creditphone was made by Alcatel/STC.
-text by Henry Titchen. Reproduced with generous permission of the author.