Telecommunications Firms Look for Unusual Outlets to Sell Phones, Phone Cards.

Publication: Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News)

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COPYRIGHT 2001 Tampa Tribune

Jun. 13--Two years ago, PrimeCo Personal Communications representatives asked Sohail Milanian to sell something new.

The telecommunications company wanted the gas station owner to clear some space on his crowded convenience store counter to sell prepaid airtime minutes and cellular phones.

Milanian was skeptical that customers would buy them, but he was willing to try.

The results were surprising to both parties.

Instead of selling an average of $750 a month, which was expected, convenience stores like Milanian's sold more like $3,000 in telecom merchandise, PrimeCo said.

The phone company -- which was a joint venture of Bell Atlantic and AirTouch Communications and became a...

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