Distributor Nimans, the exclusive UK supplier of Solitaire products, is urging resellers to plan ahead for the introduction of the new Royal Mint design, confirmed for March next year.
All New Solitaire Payphones supplied since January this year will accept the revised £1 coin but existing models already on-site will need updating, points out Solitaire’s Managing Director Jeff Wilkes - who says the majority of people are ‘oblivious’ and unprepared about the new arrival.
“We estimate that from around 500,000 Solitaire payphones sold in the UK around 50,000 are still in service,” he explained. “The Royal Mint has now confirmed the new Bi-Metallic 12 sided coin will be in circulation in March 2017 and the old pound will be discontinued in the Autumn. So with less than 200 days to go the countdown is on.”
Depending on the payphone model, on-site, remote download and back to manufacturer updates are available. As a guide everything made in the last 10 years is capable of being updated .For larger sites Nimans’ resellers can take advantage of a white label on-site service from Solitaire.
“From my own experience most people don’t know the new coin is coming which is a bit of a worry,” Jeff emphasised.
Jeff concluded: “Demand for payphones remains strong in niche areas and the new £1 coin will have a big impact. Resellers need to be advising their customers now about how to adapt their existing machines.”