Patent ID: 7433452

Claim:
A method of using a telecommunications network cashless transaction service, comprising the steps of: a) accessing the service by a user using a telecommunications network access instrument which produces a signal, b) forwarding the access instrument signal to an interface device of the telecommunications network, c) extracting service identity and user identity data from the access instrument signal by operation of the interface device, d) passing the data to a processing unit for the service of the telecommunications network by operation of the interface device, e) processing the data by operation of the service processing unit, f) instructing the interface device to forward the access instrument signal to an input output device of the telecommunications network by operation of the service processing unit, g) instructing the input output device to request details of a cashless transaction from the user by operation of the service processing unit, h) sending transaction details to the input output device using the telecommunications network access instrument, the transaction details comprising vendor identification data, including the vendor or a code associated with the vendor, and vendor location data including a code associated with a branch of the vendor and/or a point of sale (POS) device in the branch at which the transaction is to be carried out, at least some of the transaction details being held by the POS device, said at least some of the transaction details being sent to the input output device, i) passing the transaction details to the service processing unit by operation of the input output device, j) processing the transaction details and deciding whether or not the transaction can proceed by operation of the service processing unit, k) causing output of a signal conveying acceptance or rejection of the transaction to the user by operation of the service processing unit, and l) if the transaction can proceed, arranging for the transaction to be carried out by operation of the service processing unit.