Patent ID: 8326288

Claim:
A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a value added service server, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including a message service center and a home location register, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a message signal including an actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number from the message service center, wherein the message service center receives a message signal transmitted using the virtual phone number from an originating terminal and requests routing information for the virtual phone number to the home location register, the message signal is transmitted from the message service center based on a routing information response signal received from the home location register, the routing information signal including the previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number; altering the message signal by indicating that the message signal is associated with a virtual phone number service in the message signal; and transmitting the altered message signal to the message service center, wherein the message service center, having received the altered message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits routing information for the actual phone number to the message service center, and the message service center, having received the routing information, transmits the message signal to a terminating terminal based on the routing information.