1,000 limited edition phone cards sold out

Over a 1,000 Flame Tree Arts Festival Limited Edition Prepaid Long Distance phone cards were sold out during the recently concluded 25th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival, according to SaipanCell Communications customer service manager Pauline Johnson.

SaipanCell proudly announced last week that the commemorative cards—printed just in time for the Flame Tree Arts Festival—had record sales during last month’s festival.

The commemorative cards, which were sold at $5, $10, and $20 increments, featured the flame tree with inscription of the 25th Annual Flame Tree Festival.

SaipanCell/Guamcell carrier relations senior manager Veni C. Folta said the cards offer lower prepaid long distance rates, especially on international calls to the Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.

Folta said SaipanCell’s prepaid long distance cards have no airtime charges when used through SaipanCell mobile phones, unlike other prepaid cards that charge airtime rates when used through a mobile phone.

“Only the prepaid long distance rates will apply,” she added.

In a related story, SaipanCell will also be releasing at least 4,000 limited edition commemorative Micronesian Games prepaid long distance cards soon to connect athletes to their families at very reasonable rates.

SaipanCell is the official telecommunications carrier for the 6th Micronesian Games. The telecommunication company will provide push-to-talk phones to participating delegations in the quadrennial sporting event set from June 23 to July 2 here on Saipan.

Folta earlier said the company would also provide units of SaipanCell’s portable cellular phones. She said this would be the company’s service not only to the CNMI community but also to the entire Micronesian region, “so that athletes from surrounding islands could connect with their families back home.”

This way, she added, athletes would be able to provide updates to their families about their progress during the Games. “To help people to stay in touch,” she added.

Micronesian Games Organizing Committee finance chair Rex Palacios recently received a check donation worth $5,000 adding to the $20,000 of in-kind donations from the telecommunications group.

The Micro Games finance chair said the special portable cellular phones, which looks like a landline but is wireless, would be a cheaper way for the athletes to connect to their home islands. SaipanCell will also be giving away at least 3,000 bottled water during the event.