Patent ID: 7873345

Claim:
A method of deactivating a telematics unit with respect to communication service through a wireless communication network, comprising steps of: receiving a request to deactivate the communication service through a wireless communication network in a system of an operator of the wireless communication network from a telematics service provider, the request identifying the telematics unit; in response to the request, generating a deactivation command message for the telematics unit, the deactivation command message containing a dummy mobile number indicating that the telematics unit is not activated for communication service through the wireless communication network; transmitting the deactivation command message from the system of the operator of the wireless communication network, through the wireless communication network to the telematics unit; receiving the deactivation command message in the telematics unit from the wireless communication network; responsive to the received deactivation command message, deleting a mobile directory number (MDN) or a mobile identification number (MIN) number assigned to the telematics unit by the operator of the wireless communication network for authenticating the telematics unit for communication through the wireless communication network when the telematics unit is active for wireless service, from storage in memory of the telematics unit; and storing the dummy mobile number from the received deactivation command message in the memory of the telematics unit in place of the deleted number for use in a future attempt of the telematics unit to communicate through the wireless communication network when the telematics unit is inactive with respect to communication service through the wireless communication network.