Patent ID: 7627529

Claim:
A method of facilitating the multiple and simultaneous use of a prepaid calling card in a call management system, comprising: receiving a first request for the use of a prepaid calling card service in the call management system to complete a first call from a first caller; authenticating the authorization of the first caller to use the prepaid calling card; receiving a second request for concurrent use of the prepaid calling card service in the call management system to complete a second call from a second caller, the concurrent use comprising simultaneous debit of one prepaid account balance by the first and second callers; authenticating the authorization of the second caller to use the prepaid calling card; allocating a portion of the prepaid account balance to the first caller and to the second caller; at a call switch of the call management system, connecting the first and second calls; and in a billing system of the call management system, simultaneously debiting the portion of the prepaid account balance allocated to the first call and debiting the portion of the prepaid account balance allocated to the second call.