Abstract: A prepaid cellular telephone system and a method of providing prepaid cellular telephone services is provided. The telephone system includes a server operatively connected to a local exchange carrier for placing and receiving telephone calls and a handset for placing and receiving telephone calls over a cellular network. All non-emergency calls placed by the handset are direct to the server. In addition, the handset places a telephone call to the server in response to the receipt of an incoming telephone call by the handset. As a result, all non-emergency telephone calls placed or received by the handset may be monitored by the server for billing purposes.

Abstract: A method is provided of obtaining a reading of a utility meter. The method includes the steps of connecting a control circuit to the utility meter and transmitting a first data packet to the control circuit. The data packet requests the control circuit to read the utility meter. The utility meter is read in order to obtain a meter reading and a second data packet is constructed from the meter reading. The second data packet is transmitted to a central server which generates a utility bill in response to the second data packet.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmitting data between a transmitting device and a receiving device. The method includes the steps of selecting a first type of data path for transmitting the data from the transmitting device to the receiving device. The transmitting device is connected to the receiving device over a wireless telephonic network and a control data packet is transmitted over the wireless network to the receiving device utilizing the first data path. An information data packet is built in response to the control data packet. The information data packet is transmitted from the receiving device to the transmitting device.