Patent ID: 8774864

Claim:
A communication device, comprising: an interface operative to communicate with at least a communication server of a communication network of a network service provider; memory operative to store data denoting a validity period, and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) received from the server; a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integrated circuit card tool kit operative to physically house and electrically connect a SIM card when enabled; and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and operative to determine the validity period, and further operative to, during the validity period, disable the SIM housing tool kit, cause the interface to transmit to the server an equipment identification number (EIN) and not an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), cause the interface to receive from the server an IMSI dynamically allocated to the device in response to the EIN, and to store the IMSI in memory for use to facilitate communications over the network, and upon expiry of the validity period, automatically enable the SIM tool kit.