Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for compensating a recipient for participating in a marketing communication. The recipient may be compensated by means of a credit applied to his or her existing bill from the corresponding service provider, or by means of a credit applied to a third party account, such as a credit card account of the recipient or a charity that has been designated by the called party to receive such credits. The recipient is notified that he or she may be compensated for a given telemarketing call or another marketing promotion by means of a distinctive telephone ring or a similar distinctive feature. A service provider can also offer a service to its subscribers that employs the distinctive ringing feature described herein to indicate to the customer that a given telephone call is coming from a telemarketer.

Abstract: The invention designates an object, command or series of commands for anticipatory processing. If the function associated with the designated object, command or series of commands requires resources, the resources are allocated to the function implemented by the anticipated command, if available. While waiting for the user to commit to the designated object, command or series of commands, the system also collects the data necessary to perform the anticipated function. When the user commits to the designated object, command or series of commands, the commands are executed without waiting for the system to acquire the necessary resources.