Patent ID: 7996888

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one processor provide operations comprising: storing one or more virtual identity cards comprising a plurality of identities for a user with associated functionality, wherein at least two of the identities have different nymity levels, wherein the nymity levels comprise a verinym including an identity traced to the user, a pseudonym including a persistent fictitious name, and an unlinkable anonymity, wherein the verinym identifies the user by a verinym name or associated private data, wherein the one or more virtual identity cards further comprise one or more credentials and the associated private data to enable personalization to a service provider, and wherein a mobile operator provides at least one of the pluralities of identities; selecting a virtual identity card from the one or more virtual identity cards based on a nymity level corresponding to the nymity level required by a physical service card for a transaction at the service provider for the transaction; and accessing and operating on functionality associated with the selected virtual identity card, wherein the user is enabled to securely use the selected virtual identity card for the transaction at the service provider for the transaction.