METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND USING A TELEPHONE CALLING CARD

摘要

Method and apparatus for providing and using a telephone calling card are described. In one example, a planar body incudes a memory system, a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator, and a speaker. The memory system is configured to store identification data for allowing a user to place a telephone call. The DTMF generator is coupled to the memory system and is configured to generate password-protected DTMF tones to convey the identification data. The speaker is coupled to the DTMF generator and is configured to emit the DTMF tones. The DTMF tones may be played into a telephone for making a call using the telephone calling card apparatus. Since the identification data is played into the telephone and password-protected, rather than being manually entered by the user, the identification data is less susceptible to unauthorized disclosure and thus less susceptible to fraudulent use.