Abstract: A location based service data-communications protocol (100), the protocol (100) including the steps of: receiving a call from a communications device (120); discerning location-relevant information about a present location-cell of the communications device (130); by interrogating a database facility finding at least one authorized support authority for the present location-cell (140); and routing the call to a support authority selected from the at least one support authority (150). The caller may presently be in a fixed location or may be mobile. For a fixed location caller, a preferred embodiment relates to customer services.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for verifying the identity of a person seeking access to a computer, whether directly or thorough a digital network, including the Internet or to some data within the computer or a facility provided by it. The basic principle of the invention is to carry out such identification automatically by means of the person's cellular telephone, connected through a suitable adapter, to the computer with which he physically interacts. Also disclosed are means for increasing the security of the identification and the manner of using the method in a variety of applications, including approval of credit-account transactions.