Payphone Tag Wiki - User contributions [en]

Phonecard

2026-06-08T05:45:36Z

SonicStag: /* Recent Observations */

[[File:$5 telstra phonecard.jpg|thumb|$5 Telstra Phonecard<ref>https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/396077653712</ref>]]
A '''Telstra Phonecard''' (also called a '''calling card''') is a pre-paid card that is used to make phone calls at [[Payphone|payphones]] to international numbers and satellite phones. These cards are sold in denominations of $5, $10, and $20 at select Telstra outlets<ref>''Calling cards'', Telstra, [https://www.telstra.com.au/phone-line/calling-cards](https://www.telstra.com.au/phone-line/calling-cards). Accessed 3 May 2026.</ref>, and they are the only way to pay for such calls, as cash payments were discontinued at some point after domestic calls were made free in 2021. Phonecards can be programmed to autodial a number, which can be useful for [[Agent|agents]] as it allows making captures on payphones with damaged keypads.[[File:$10 telstra phonecard.jpg|thumb|279x279px|$10 Telstra Phonecard<ref>https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/396077695502</ref>]]

== History ==
Telstra started issuing phonecards in late 1980s. This first generation of cards were made by Japanese company Anritsu and had the value encoded onto a magnetic stripe, which would be decremented by the payphone. The phone would also punch holes into the card to provide a visual indication of the remaining credit.

In 1997, with the introduction of the [[Telstra Smart Payphone]], a new generation of phonecards with a chip was introduced. As these could not be used with older payphones, Telstra introduced a simple colour code: chip cards carried a red arrow matching the red arrow on Smart Payphones, and the older magstripe cards carried a green arrow matching the green arrow on older payphones.<ref name="smh-smart">''Using our new Smart Payphones and Smart Phonecards is easy'', Telstra advertisement, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', Fairfax Media clipping via Newspapers.com, [https://fairfaxmedia.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-telstra-smart/196788410/](https://fairfaxmedia.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-telstra-smart/196788410/). Accessed 3 May 2026.</ref> This has since been retired as there are no longer any phones remaining that accept magstripe cards.

Telstra also promoted the Smart Phonecard as a possible stored-value payment system beyond payphones, stating that Smart Phonecards would soon be accepted in vending machines for snacks and drinks.<ref name="smh-smart2">''Using our new Smart Payphones and Smart Phonecards is easy'', Telstra advertisement, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', Fairfax Media clipping via Newspapers.com, [https://fairfaxmedia.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-telstra-smart/196788410/](https://fairfaxmedia.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-telstra-smart/196788410/). Accessed 3 May 2026.</ref> The extent of any later vending-machine rollout is unclear.

== Technical details ==
The chip used in the Telstra Smart Phonecard has been identified by hobbyist and collector testing as the '''Siemens/Infineon SLE 4436''' family. The SLE 4436/36E was specifically designed for prepaid telephone-card applications. Manufacturer information describes it as containing 221 bits of EEPROM memory, 16 bits of ROM, a control/security unit, and a computing unit for chip authentication.<ref name="sle4436">''SLE 4436/36E Short Product Information'', Infineon Technologies, [https://cardplus.ru/wp-content/themes/new_templete/files/sle4436.pdf](https://cardplus.ru/wp-content/themes/new_templete/files/sle4436.pdf). Accessed 3 May 2026.</ref>

The chip stores the card serial number, the remaining value on the card, an autodial number of up to 10 digits and certain other data. For security reasons, the chip is programmed to only allow one way writing. Credit cannot be added, it can only be deducted, hence why it is required to exchange the card for a new one if a refund is required. Similarly once an autodial number has been set, it cannot be edited or removed.

Ranges of serial numbers to invalidate can be sent to payphones in case a batch of phonecards is lost or stolen. This is likely also how cards are invalidated when expired.

It has been observed recently expired phonecards (e.g. 2025) continue to work. It is possible Telstra has stopped invalidating these cards so that unsold stock can continue to be sold, given the extremely low sales volumes now that the vast majority of calls are free. Please note this is not officially documented, so agents should purchase these cards at their own risk.

== Finding a phonecard ==
Telstra Shop staff may not know what a Telstra Phonecard is, especially because they are now rarely requested. When asking for one, avoid only saying ''calling card'', as staff may think of mobile recharge vouchers, international PIN cards or discontinued products. Useful wording:<blockquote>I’m after a '''Telstra Phonecard calling card''' for use in Telstra payphones. Telstra’s website lists it under '''Calling cards''' and says it is available in '''$5, $10 and $20''' denominations at selected Telstra Stores and retail outlets.</blockquote>It may help to show staff Telstra's ''Calling cards'' page, which states that Telstra Phonecards are used for international, mobile satellite and other chargeable calls from Telstra payphones.<ref name="telstra-phonecard-page2">''Calling cards'', Telstra, [https://www.telstra.com.au/phone-line/calling-cards](https://www.telstra.com.au/phone-line/calling-cards). Accessed 3 May 2026.</ref> Ask whether the store can check old stock, the accessories drawer, or internal product listings.

=== Recent Observations ===
The following table shows stores where agents on the [[Discord Server|Payphone Tag Discord]] have recently tried to obtain phonecards:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Store
!State
!Notes
!Date
|-
|Burwood
|NSW
|Many cards available
|2/6/2026
|-
|Chatswood Chase
|NSW
|Plenty available
|6/6/2026
|-
|<s>Chatswood</s>
|NSW
|None
|01/06/2026
|-
|<s>Kempsey</s>
|NSW
|Out of stock
|25/5/2026
|-
|Marrickville Metro
|NSW
|Many $10, $20 cards
One $5 left
|1/6/2026
|-
|<s>Macquarie Centre</s>
|NSW
|Out of stock
|24/5/2026
|-
|Pitt Street
|NSW
|Plenty of $10, $20 cards
$5 not sold here
|24/5/2026
|-
|<s>Rhodes</s>
|NSW
|Out of stock
|25/5/2026
|-
|Wollongong
|NSW
|Plenty of $5 cards
|Unknown
|-
|<s>World Square</s>
|NSW
|Out of stock
|Unknown
|-
|Brunswick
|VIC
|$5 available
|22/5/2026
|-
|<s>Melbourne Icon</s>
|VIC
|Out of stock
|6/6/2026
|-
|Melbourne Emporium
|VIC
|$5 sold out
|6/5/2026
|-
|Rundle Mall
|SA
|2x$10 and 1x$20 remaining
|8/5/2026
|-
|<s>Claremont</s>
|WA
|Out of stock
|6/6/2026
|-
|<s>Perth</s>
|WA
|Out of stock
|6/6/2026
|}

== Exchange ==
In certain cases, phonecards can be exchanged for a new one by posting it to Telstra with a completed form:

* Exchange magstripe for chip card (ended 3 May 2010)
* Exchange expired card with value remaining for new card (except where marked otherwise on card)
* Exchange faulty card for new card
* Exchange card where value was deducted incorrected due to a payphone fault

File:Payphone-02971501X1-20260602074005.jpg

2026-06-02T07:40:55Z

SonicStag: Category:Photos of payphone 02971501X1 Category:Payphone photos {{cc-by-sa-4.0}}

== Summary ==
[[Category:Photos of payphone 02971501X1]]
[[Category:Payphone photos]]

{{cc-by-sa-4.0}}

Cabinet

2026-05-27T06:41:53Z

SonicStag: /* Standard cabinet types */

The cabinet is the structure housing the payphone that contains the electrical and telephonic equipment needed for a [[Telstra Smart Payphone]] to be operational. Indoor payphones are typically very simple, whereas outdoor payphones additionally have a limited amount of cover from the weather.

Very rarely, a payphone does not have a visible cabinet of any kind.

== Standard cabinet types ==
This is a summary of the standard cabinet types:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Summary of standard cabinet types
!Internal name
!Photo
!Size
!Locations
!Notes
!Installation dates
|-
|Boulevard
|[[File:Boulevard.jpg|thumb]]
|Full width
|Indoor and outdoor
|Frame colour can come in various colours, such as blue, red, and green.
|?
|-
|FLPC (Full length payphone cabinet)
|[[File:FLPC.jpg|alt=FLPC|thumb]]
|Full width
|Outdoor
|
|?
|-
|Streetcab
|[[File:Payphone-03983000X2-20260512074917.jpg|thumb]]
|Full width
|Outdoor
|Thicker back than FLPC to hold advertisements
|?
|-
|Prestige
|Example Needed
|Full width
|Outdoor
|
|?
|-
|Majestic
|[[File:Majestic.jpg|alt=Majestic Payphone Cabinet Type|thumb]]
|Half width
|Indoor and outdoor
|
|?
|-
|Telebox
|[[File:Telebox.jpg|alt=Telebox|thumb]]
|Half width
|Indoor and outdoor
|Table can be fully or partially slanted, or have no slant at all.
|?
|-
|Clearline
|[[File:Payphone-02625104X1-20260515130057.jpg|thumb]]
|Slim
|Indoor
|
|?
|-
|Slimline
|[[File:Payphone-02963404X1-20260512033212.jpg|thumb]]
|Slim
|Indoor
|May have lit orange hat, grey 4G antenna or no hat at all
|?
|-
|Modular
|[[File:Payphone-02978904X1-20260525074338.jpg|alt=Modular|thumb]]
|Slim
|Indoor
|Reportedly less than 50 exist, all inside shopping centres
|?
|-
|Digital
|[[File:Payphone-08829401X2-20260508 222647.jpg|thumb]]
|Double width
|Outdoor
|At least two different versions exist.
Some have had the screen on the phone side replaced with a static poster (as in photo).

Has a USB-A charging port on the right side of the phone.
|?
|-
|Billboard (JCDecaux Booth)
|[[File:Billboard.jpg|alt=Billboard (JCD Booth)|thumb]]
|Double width
|Outdoor
|Exclusive to certain areas of Sydney, these Cabinet types have several different variations.
Some have Digital advertising screens on the back and some have static posters.
These cabinets mostly have a map or an advertising space in place of a second phone.
There are also different variations of the glass on these cabinets, with some having the standard Telstra Majestic glass and branding on them.
|1997
|-
|Red Box/Heritage
|[[File:Payphone-08853622X2-20260511113756.jpg|thumb]]
|Full width
|Outdoor
|
|?
|-
|?
|Example Needed
|Double Width
|Outdoor
|Rugged all metal anti-vandalism cabinet design
|?
|}

Note that there is some level of variation in the construction of some of these models, and some payphones do not have a standard cabinet or any cabinet at all. These are rare.

== Attachments ==
Most cabinets have a coloured dome that forms the top. The standard colours are orange for a standard payphone and magenta for payphones with [[Telstra Air|free Wi-Fi]], although a limited run of other colours were also installed as part of Telstra's "Life in Full Colour" rebrand in 2011. The hat typically contains a light to illuminate the logo on the outside, and sometimes a router to provide the free Wi-Fi.

Some payphones also have a magenta cube fitted above the hat. This usually contains the router that provides free Wi-Fi and/or the LTE modem that allows the phone to function. This cube has Wi-Fi symbols on it if the payphone has free Wi-Fi enabled and is blank otherwise.

Some payphones have a dark grey "blade" instead of the cube. This is an enclosure for a LTE antenna.<gallery>
File:Payphone-02434403X2-20260512012023.jpg|A Telebox with a standard orange dome
File:Payphone-02954707X2-20260509113533.jpg|A Steetcab with a pink dome (Wi-Fi enabled)
File:Payphone-02957012X2-20260509115902.jpg|A Majestic cabinet with a magenta dome and cube (Wi-Fi enabled)
File:Payphone-02422685X2-20260507055309.jpg|A Telebox with an orange dome and magenta cube (non Wi-Fi enabled)
File:Payphone-07557320X1-20260506101708.jpg|A Slimline with a grey blade
File:Payphone-07552980X1-20260506104756.jpg|A Telebox with an orange dome and grey blade
</gallery>

Cabinet

2026-05-27T06:19:55Z

SonicStag: Added Example and description of Billboard (JCDeaux Booth)

The cabinet is the structure housing the payphone that contains the electrical and telephonic equipment needed for a [[Telstra Smart Payphone]] to be operational. Indoor payphones are typically very simple, whereas outdoor payphones additionally have a limited amount of cover from the weather.

Very rarely, a payphone does not have a visible cabinet of any kind.

== Standard cabinet types ==
This is a summary of the standard cabinet types:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Summary of standard cabinet types
!Internal name
!Photo
!Size
!Locations
!Notes
!Installation dates
|-
|Boulevard
|[[File:Boulevard.jpg|thumb]]
|Full width
|Indoor and outdoor
|Frame colour can come in various colours, such as blue, red, and green.
|?
|-
|FLPC (Full length payphone cabinet)
|[[File:FLPC.jpg|alt=FLPC|thumb]]
|Full width
|Outdoor
|
|?
|-
|Streetcab
|[[File:Payphone-03983000X2-20260512074917.jpg|thumb]]
|Full width
|Outdoor
|Thicker back than FLPC to hold advertisements
|?
|-
|Prestige
|Example Needed
|Full width
|Outdoor
|
|?
|-
|Majestic
|[[File:Majestic.jpg|alt=Majestic Payphone Cabinet Type|thumb]]
|Half width
|Indoor and outdoor
|
|?
|-
|Telebox
|[[File:Telebox.jpg|alt=Telebox|thumb]]
|Half width
|Indoor and outdoor
|Table can be fully or partially slanted, or have no slant at all.
|?
|-
|Clearline
|[[File:Payphone-02625104X1-20260515130057.jpg|thumb]]
|Slim
|Indoor
|
|?
|-
|Slimline
|[[File:Payphone-02963404X1-20260512033212.jpg|thumb]]
|Slim
|Indoor
|May have lit orange hat, grey 4G antenna or no hat at all
|?
|-
|Modular
|[[File:Payphone-02978904X1-20260525074338.jpg|alt=Modular|thumb]]
|Slim
|Indoor
|Reportedly less than 50 exist, all inside shopping centres
|?
|-
|Digital
|[[File:Payphone-08829401X2-20260508 222647.jpg|thumb]]
|Double width
|Outdoor
|At least two different versions exist.
Some have had the screen on the phone side replaced with a static poster (as in photo).

Has a USB-A charging port on the right side of the phone.
|?
|-
|Billboard (JCDecaux Booth)
|[[File:Billboard.jpg|alt=Billboard (JCD Booth)|thumb]]
|Double width
|Outdoor
|Exclusive to certain areas of Sydney, these Cabinet types have several different variations.
Some have Digital advertising screens on the back and some have static posters.
These cabinets mostly have a map or an advertising space in place of a second phone.
There are also different variations of the glass on these cabinets, with some having the standard Telstra Majestic glass and branding on them.
|?
|-
|Red Box/Heritage
|[[File:Payphone-08853622X2-20260511113756.jpg|thumb]]
|Full width
|Outdoor
|
|?
|-
|?
|Example Needed
|Double Width
|Outdoor
|Rugged all metal anti-vandalism cabinet design
|?
|}

Note that there is some level of variation in the construction of some of these models, and some payphones do not have a standard cabinet or any cabinet at all. These are rare.

== Attachments ==
Most cabinets have a coloured dome that forms the top. The standard colours are orange for a standard payphone and magenta for payphones with [[Telstra Air|free Wi-Fi]], although a limited run of other colours were also installed as part of Telstra's "Life in Full Colour" rebrand in 2011. The hat typically contains a light to illuminate the logo on the outside, and sometimes a router to provide the free Wi-Fi.

Some payphones also have a magenta cube fitted above the hat. This usually contains the router that provides free Wi-Fi and/or the LTE modem that allows the phone to function. This cube has Wi-Fi symbols on it if the payphone has free Wi-Fi enabled and is blank otherwise.

Some payphones have a dark grey "blade" instead of the cube. This is an enclosure for a LTE antenna.<gallery>
File:Payphone-02434403X2-20260512012023.jpg|A Telebox with a standard orange dome
File:Payphone-02954707X2-20260509113533.jpg|A Steetcab with a pink dome (Wi-Fi enabled)
File:Payphone-02957012X2-20260509115902.jpg|A Majestic cabinet with a magenta dome and cube (Wi-Fi enabled)
File:Payphone-02422685X2-20260507055309.jpg|A Telebox with an orange dome and magenta cube (non Wi-Fi enabled)
File:Payphone-07557320X1-20260506101708.jpg|A Slimline with a grey blade
File:Payphone-07552980X1-20260506104756.jpg|A Telebox with an orange dome and grey blade
</gallery>

File:Billboard.jpg

2026-05-27T06:13:38Z

SonicStag:

Billboard

Cabinet

2026-05-04T05:21:49Z

SonicStag: Added Telebox cabinet example

File:Telebox.jpg

2026-05-04T05:21:32Z

SonicStag:

Telebox Cabinet Type

Cabinet

2026-05-04T05:15:44Z

SonicStag: Added images for Majestic, Boulevard, Clearline, FLPC, Slimline and Modular

File:Modular.jpg

2026-05-04T05:14:58Z

SonicStag:

Modular Cabinet Type

File:Slimline.jpg

2026-05-04T05:13:55Z

SonicStag:

Slimline Cabinet Type

File:FLPC.jpg

2026-05-04T05:12:47Z

SonicStag:

FLPC Cabinet Type

File:Clearline.jpg

2026-05-04T05:12:07Z

SonicStag:

Clearline Cabinet Type

File:Boulevard.jpg

2026-05-04T05:10:41Z

SonicStag:

Boulevard Payphone Cabinet Type

Cabinet

2026-05-04T04:59:52Z

SonicStag: Added picture of a majestic payphone :)

Cabinet

2026-05-04T04:48:06Z

SonicStag: Added a Table for Standard Cabinet Types with room for examples. (Will add pictures when approved)

File:Majestic.jpg

2026-05-04T04:42:23Z

SonicStag:

Majestic Payphone Cabinet