| Name | Schlumberger Access 110 Cardphone |
| Date | C. 1995 |
| Manufacturer | Schlumberger, France |
| Link | Schlumberger Access 110 as used in France Schlumberger Access 110 as used in the UK Schlumberger Access 110 used in Mexico |
Development of the Schlumberger Access 110 Cardphone
The Access 110 was the earliest cardphone for chip based Callcards Telecom Eireann introduced. The phone itself was produced by Schlumberger, the French company who also produced the chips used on many Callcards, including the first one IMI New ways the Nineties. The Access 110 was a versatile card phone, which was also used regularly by other major Telecommunication companies worldwide, including France Telecom.
This cardphone was typically installed in Telecom Eireann phonebox kiosks, and also was found in many public locations such as train stations, shopping centres, airports etc. It was capable of reading and erasing all of Telecom Eireanns Callcards that were issued with a chipset. It would not read any of the earlier Trial Callcards, which would have used a different cardphone to operate.
The Access 110 cardphone would only accept phonecards to operate. This meant if the user wished to use coins that they would need to use a separate coinphone kiosk. Telecom Eireann typically provided two phone kiosks together with both a coinphone once side and then a cardphone the other side. This was not always the case however, and it was possible to find different combinations depending on the location.
To the right is a photo of a Access 110 cardphone with a green colour facia, the type that was mostly found in Ireland. Interestingly this photo is actually taken from a Complimentary Callcards welcome pack. This welcome pack was included with the Teddy Bear, St Patrick’s Day 91 and also Treaty of Limerick Callcards.
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