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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the inclusion in
this Form 8-K and to the incorporation by reference into the Registration
Statement (Form S-8) of SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc. (Registration No. 333-36543)
filed on September 26, 1997 of our report dated April 4, 1997 (except with
respect to the matter discussed in Notes 1, 3(a), 4(d), 5 and 9, as to which the
date is May 24, 1997 and to the matter discussed in Note 1(c), as to which the
date is November 24, 1997) on the financial statements of SmarTel
Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 1995 and
1996 and for the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 and to all
references to our Firm included in this registration statement. It should be
noted that we have not audited any financial statements of the Company
subsequent to December 31, 1996 or performed any audit procedures subsequent to
the date of our report.
 
/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Boston, Massachusetts
December 10, 1997