Patent ID: 8452979

Claim:
A portable telecommunications apparatus having one or more functionalities including providing user access to a telecommunications network, the portable telecommunications apparatus comprising: integrated circuit card (ICC) reader circuitry and processing circuitry, wherein the ICC reader circuitry is configured to communicate with one or more network-access ICCs; and the processing circuitry is arranged: to undertake an authentication process on security circuitry comprising a security card distinct from a SIM card, the security card being selectively removable from the ICC reader circuitry, the security circuitry being in communication with the apparatus to determine whether or not the security circuitry is authenticated for use with the apparatus; to allow the authorisation of network-access ICCs in storage circuitry according to whether authenticated security circuitry is in communication with the apparatus; and to permit a user access to the one or more functionalities of the apparatus according to whether an authorised network-access ICC is in communication with the ICC reader circuitry.