~digicash at Shell

[Eric Blossom]

> Shell is now marketing a stored-value card in $25, $50, and $100 face
> denominations.  The $100 card retails for $94 right now.  I'm not sure if
> that discount will be a long-term thing or if it's just to get people
> hooked.  Anyway, the card can be purchased anonymously for cash and can be
> used to buy anything at Shell.  I like to use the automated
> pay-at-the-pump gizmos to save time but I don't like to leave a digital
> footprint behind on my credit card statement for Louis' Legions to peruse,
> so I think the stored-value card is a step forward for privacy.

Is this a "stored value smart card", or something like most US phone
cards, where the "account number" is used to debit a centrally
maintained account?