Abstract: An authentication server and a method of enabling a user of a communications capable device to make a payment via a mobile operator billing system are described. The authentication server determines a user identifier string for sending to a communications capable device according to a probability of successful entry by a user. The user identifier string is linked to the content item data and the string sent to the communications capable device. The user responds, via a mobile network, by sending a short message service (SMS) based user response. The response is compared to previously transmitted user identifier messages, and billable user identity data appended to the SMS by the mobile network can be used to associate the transaction in process with billable identity data derived from the carrier data to enable a user's mobile phone account to be billed for the purchase.

Abstract: An authentication server and a method of enabling a user of a communications capable device to make a payment via a mobile operator billing system are described. The authentication server determines a user identifier string for sending to a communications capable device according to a probability of successful entry by a user. The user identifier string is linked to the content item data and the string sent to the communications capable device. The user responds, via a mobile network, by sending a short message service (SMS) based user response. The response is compared to previously transmitted user identifier messages, and billable user identity data appended to the SMS by the mobile network can be used to associate the transaction in process with billable identity data derived from the carrier data to enable a user's mobile phone account to be billed for the purchase.

Abstract: A method of enabling a user of a mobile device to select a billing method for a transaction to acquire an item of content, the method comprising: implementing steps on a meta-payment server, comprising: logging content provider data and content item metadata for a plurality of items of content, said content item metadata comprising a link; logging phone network data comprising a user identification number; storing a list of available payment methods, each with allowed types of content for which a payment using the payment method may be made and a maximum transaction value; generating/identifying an account for said user comprising, a transaction history for said user defining previous successful and unsuccessful payments made by said user and the payment method for each; receiving a request from a content provider comprising a request for said meta-payment server to serve a list of payment methods to said user in response to said content provider; receiving a request from said user to purchase a said item of