Patent ID: 8140052

Claim:
A method for completing a roaming cellular call between a roaming subscriber and another party, comprising the steps of: initiating the roaming call between the roaming subscriber and the another party, the roaming subscriber having a prepaid debit account; connecting the roaming subscriber to a cellular network when a connection between the subscriber and the another party is to be made such that a call has been built over a calling network, wherein the roaming subscriber is within a calling area of a non-home network cellular provider, such that roaming charges apply; billing a home network cellular provider of the roaming subscriber for connect charges beginning when the call is built; charging the roaming subscriber only a portion of the connect charges beginning when the roaming subscriber is connected to the another party; examining the prepaid debit account of the roaming subscriber to determine the balance thereof; and transmitting a message to the roaming subscriber to inform the roaming subscriber of at least the balance of the prepaid debit account relating to the call connection prior to connecting the roaming subscriber to another party over the already built call.