Abstract: In a shared communication service plan in which multiple subscribers operate under a common billing account, a method and system is provided for more equitably allocating service costs among the subscribers in the group, by allocating overage costs based on the extent to which each subscriber used base services available to the group. For instance, if the group plan includes a designated number of base minutes of service per month and defines a per-minute overage cost for minutes used beyond the base number, the method and system may allocate to a given subscriber a portion of the group's overage cost, with the portion being determined based on the portion of the group's base minutes used by the subscriber. Advantageously, an invoice may then be generated setting forth the equitable allocation among the subscribers in the group, thus allowing the group to more readily determine how much each subscriber should pay.

Abstract: A mobile telephone is provided with an emergency beacon. When the telephone's user dials an emergency number, such as 9-1-1, the telephone detects that an emergency number has been dialed, and it activates the beacon. The beacon may be a radio beacon, and, if the telephone is GPS-equipped, the radio beacon may send out the mobile telephone's location. Safety personnel can locate the caller by following the beacon to the caller. Other optional features include an audio emergency beacon and/or a visual emergency beacon, such as a strobe, in addition to or in place of a radio beacon. In one embodiment, the beacon is not activated unless the mobile telephone is unable to complete the call to the emergency number. In another embodiment, the beacon is activated without receiving any remote authorization from, for example, a 9-1-1 call center.