Abstract: Embodiments described herein include methods and systems for remotely managing appliances, including enabling communication between a user of the appliance and third party systems. The third party systems can be any entity that has a relationship with the user of the appliance, such as a payment infrastructure handling incremental payments for the appliance, or a content management entity (for example, helping parents to control access to digital content available to children). In various embodiments, third party systems communicate with a device that is primarily a communication device under control of the user. In turn, the communication device conveys control information to the appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include methods and systems for remotely managing appliances associated with a user. A mobile phone is but one example of a controlled appliance. A third party operating system (OS) resident on the appliance and is in communication with a third party infrastructure. The appliance receives communications from the third party infrastructure related to management of the appliance, wherein management comprises controlling when the appliance is operable, and which functions the appliance can perform.