AT&T developed the card (patent #:6694003) primarily as a PRIVACY service.
Original intent was that if you needed to hear from someone, but did not want them to know your name or location, you would purchase card, activate service, and then callers could reach you. Number they dialed, would route to any number you programmed in. They added a "follow me" feature which if (for example) you didn't answer at first location, call would re-route to your back-up number.
PLUS -- 800 service without big set-up hassles. AND near total anonymity. (I am sure AT&T would co-operate if card were used for nefarious purposes.
Original thought was that card purchaser would only activate the card for very limited, very short time, purposes (hence, the cost-per minute was not really the primary issue).
PS: As far as I know (so far) ... the card and the service is available ONLY thru Walmart.
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Jason Vance