Patent ID: 8028893
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: G06Q,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: forecasting a number of portable devices to be ordered by customers within a defined time period; receiving a pool of numbers for self-activating respective ones of the portable devices, a size of the pool of numbers being based at least in part on the forecasted number of portable devices; receiving an order for a portable device to be delivered to a customer; fulfilling the order by (1) provisioning the portable device with a number from the pool of numbers for self-activation over a wireless network with a wireless service provider when first powered on by the customer and (2) providing for delivery of the portable device to the customer; receiving, over the wireless network and from the portable device following self-activation, a request for at least a portion of digital content; responsive to the request, providing the portion of the digital content to the portable device over the wireless network for a fee; and using at least a part of the fee to pay the wireless service provider to at least partly cover a cost associated with use of wireless network by the portable device.