Abstract: Method for making a payment using a portable communication device (110), wherein an SMS (Short Message Service) message (510;520) of a predetermined format, including a payment instruction with information (511;521) identifying a physical point of sale (100), and a product (101) or an amount, is sent from the device via a mobile phone network (111) to an SMS recipient (130,140), arranged to cause the payment to be executed. The method includes: providing first (140) and second (130) SMS recipients with different telephone numbers, the first causing the payment to be charged via a first payment service provider and the second causing the payment to instead be charged via a second payment service provider; and providing a computer software function arranged to automatically produce an SMS message of the type based upon parameter data available to the device, to select an SMS recipient, and send the SMS message.

Abstract: Method for purchasing a product using a portable communication device (110), wherein an SMS (Short Message Service) message (510;520) of a predetermined format, including a payment instruction with information (513;530) identifying a recipient mobile subscriber, different from a subscriber using the device, a point of sale (100), and a product (101) or an amount, is sent from the device via a mobile phone network (111) to an SMS recipient (130,140). The method includes: providing the device with a computer software function arranged to automatically produce an SMS message based upon parameter data available to the device; causing the computer software function to send the produced SMS message to the SMS recipient; and causing an SMS message to be sent including a digital voucher or indication of a credit to the recipient mobile subscriber.