Methods and apparatus for providing a prepaid, remote memory transaction account with voice indicia

A method for effectuating commercial transactions between a consumer and a host computer comprising:

• (a) providing a database associated with the computer, said database comprising an audio indicia and a plurality of accounts;
• (b) providing a prepaid transaction instrument for use by the consumer, said prepaid transaction instrument comprising an authorization code for accessing said host computer and a visual indicia related to said audio indicia;
• (c) communicating said audio indicia to the consumer when said host computer is accessed by the consumer for making a commercial transaction;
• (d) inputting said transaction request from the consumer;
• (e) appropriately increasing or decreasing the balance of one of said plurality of accounts associated with said transaction instrument authorization code during said transaction;
• and
• (f) issuing to the consumer a postage stamp with said transaction instrument, said postage stamp having an image of to said visual indicia on said transaction instrument.

A computer system for placing telephone calls with a prepaid telephone card, comprising:

• an incoming call trunk for connecting to a prepaid telephone card holder;
• an outgoing call trunk for connecting to a desired telephone number;
• an account database for storing an account balance associated with an account code on said telephone card;
• an audio library for storing a voice message, said voice message comprising a voice reproduction of a person pictured on said telephone card;
• and
• a central processing unit configured to receive said account code from said card holder, prompt said card holder with said voice message in making telephone call-related transactions, connect said card holder to said desired telephone number, and incrementally decrease said account balance associated with said account code during the call connection to said desired telephone number.

A method for placing a phone call with a prepaid telephone card, the telephone card having an account number and an image of a person, comprising:

• providing a balance associated with said telephone card account number in an account database;
• providing an audio library comprising a plurality of voice messages from said person pictured on said telephone card, and wherein at least one of said voice messages instructs a calling party on placing a telephone call with said telephone card;
• receiving said telephone card account number from said calling party;
• transmitting said instructing voice message from said audio library to said calling party;
• inputting a desired telephone number from said calling party;
• and
• decreasing said balance in said account database during the duration of the connection to said desired telephone number.