Patent ID: 8626117

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of providing prepaid billing services as part of a messaging service, comprising: at a server system having memory and one or more processors, wherein there is a wireless communication channel between the server system and a mobile device: determining whether a prepaid account balance associated with the mobile device satisfies one or more pre-determined criteria; establishing a regular messaging service between the server system and the mobile device via the wireless communication channel if the prepaid account balance satisfies the pre-determined criteria, wherein establishing the regular messaging service between the server system and the mobile device comprises enabling exchange of information between the mobile device and an external messaging server coupled to the server system; and establishing a limited messaging service between the server system and the mobile device via the wireless communication channel if the prepaid account balance does not satisfy the pre-determined criteria, wherein establishing the limited messaging service comprises sending a message containing an error code to the mobile device and blocking exchange of information between the mobile device and the external messaging server after sending the message containing the error code.