Patent ID: 7131582
Filing Date: 2006-11-07
Classification: G06Q,H04M

Abstract:
1. In a relationship where a customer has obtained a prepaid credit for telecommunication services (“prepaid credit”), including a preconfigured passcode, from a universal prepaid telecommunication services credit issuer (“issuer”), the issuer being a different entity than a telecommunication services provider (“provider”), a method for applying the prepaid credit to the customer's telecommunication services account, the method comprising: the issuer receiving a communication from the customer; the issuer receiving the passcode from the customer; upon validating the passcode, the issuer associating the prepaid credit with an identifier; the issuer associating the prepaid credit with a particular provider; and the issuer fulfilling an account with the particular provider, wherein the account is associated with the identifier and fulfilling the account comprises adding an amount to the account equal to the prepaid credit; wherein associating the prepaid credit with a particular provider comprises allowing the customer to choose a provider and associating the prepaid credit with the chosen provider.