pay phone story

Payphone Story – illustrated international encyclopaedia of payphones

Indonesian Payphone- TAMURA 2000 CARD Phones

Later Indonesian Tamura-design payphones associated with PT INTI combined coin and telephone-card payment, electronic displays and updated cabinets. A visually similar Thai version carried TOT and Starcom branding, accepting coins and chip cards. Its antennas and CDMA2000 marking indicate wireless network operation, although its manufacturer and relationship to INTI remain unconfirmed.

Name	TAMURA 2000 CARD Phones
Date	c. 2000
Manufacturer	Interesting final version Tamura by PT INTI that is designed to take phone cards as well as cash.

Above- used in a mall around 2000

Development of the Tamura payphone 2000

These Indonesian payphones represent a later development of the Tamura design associated with PT INTI, combining coin and telephone-card payment in a modernised cabinet. Compared with earlier machines, they feature a prominent electronic display, four buttons beneath the screen and a metal keypad. Photographs show several finishes, including blue-and-silver cabinets and an orange version with a metal front panel. Whether these differences indicate separate production periods or customer specifications remains uncertain.

PT INTI’s published history confirms Tamura as a technology partner for telephone terminal equipment during 1985–1998, although the precise model designation and introduction date of these machines still require confirmation. www.inti.co.id

The red Thai example shares conspicuous design features, particularly its display surround, four function buttons and upper coin assembly. It carries TOT branding, a Starcom name and instructions for both coins and TOT chip cards. Its most distinctive feature is the inscription “CDMA 2000 1X 470 MHz”, accompanied by antennas, identifying a wireless public telephone rather than a conventional fixed-line installation.

This adaptation combined familiar payphone operation with a radio connection to the network. However, the shared appearance does not establish Indonesian manufacture, and “CDMA 2000” identifies the communications technology rather than the machine’s model number or its production year.

Below- a variety, showing different coin, card, LED configurations. They all continue to have the characteristic Tamura coin tin / refund chute design.