Patent ID: 8914025

Claim:
A method performed by a mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising: connecting to a cellular network identified by a main Access Point Name (APN), wherein doing so comprises: transmitting a data activation request; and receiving a confirmation of an acceptance of the data activation request; transmitting a probe to a known server through the cellular network, wherein the probe is configured to determine whether the mobile device has a valid cellular data connection subscription with the mobile telecommunications service provider and elicits a re-direct response if no valid cellular data connection subscription is determined; examining a response elicited by the probe; and if the response is a re-direct response, wherein following the re-direct response would result in connecting to a first address, connecting, instead, to a cellular data connection service registration site at a second address through the main APN, to allow a user of the mobile device to register for a cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider, wherein the mobile device is limited to accessing the cellular data connection service registration site until the user is successfully registered for the cellular data connection service; if the response is from the known server, concluding that the mobile device has a valid cellular data connection subscription; wherein the cellular data connection service registration site allows the user to perform one or more of: purchase a cellular data connection plan, extend an existing cellular data connection plan, add minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and add bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan and wherein, after successfully registering for cellular data connection service through the main APN, the mobile device connects to the Internet through the main APN.