GTS COMES TO CANADA
By Adnews Staff
New York based Global Telecommunication Solutions has formed a Canadian company to manufacture and distribute its prepaid phone cards here. The Canadian subsidiary has headquarters in Winnipeg and offices in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. The company opened a Canadian office in Winnipeg in July. In December it incorporated Global Telecommunication Solutions Canada. Global makes phone cards bearing licensed promotional graphics, which can be used for interactive applications. It has one card called The Buz which teens use to talk to Candace Cameron of the TV series Full House. With GTS's Marvel Comics card, kids play an interactive game with Spiderman over the phone. GTS also has a license from Sesame Street to make kids' phone cards. The Sesame cards can be had as "bag tags" which attach to a child's knapsack so they aren't easily lost and are readily available in case of emergency. GTS handles manufacturing and distribution, and the stores that carry the products are responsible for promoting them. GTS does its corporate advertising in-house. In Canada GTS is buying its phone time from Manitoba Telephone System and ACC Long Distance of Toronto. It is currently negotiating with Bell Canada and B.C. Tel to buy time from them as well. GTS CEO John McCabe is also taking the job of Canadian CEO. Executive vice-president Joe Clark is becoming Canadian president and Kent Ulrich is continuing as vice-president of Canadian marketing and sales.