Abstract: A method of operating an apparatus enabled for usage by a user having a prepaid account at a service provider capable of providing one or more services over a communications network. The method involves retrieving credit status information about the prepaid account. At least for one service provided by the service provider, the credit status information is processed to determine a current availability of the one service. Then, a user interface of the apparatus is controlled to indicate the determined availability of the one service.

Abstract: A method and system for setting up a notification for the user of a mobile communication device using simple, well-known mechanisms such as e-mail and natural language expressions. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a notification configuration, and generating one or more notification criteria con-elated to the notification configuration, such that the user is notified of communication meeting the notification criteria. The system includes a storage device for storing notification received from the user and the correlated notification criteria, and a processor in communication with the storage device that correlates the notification configuration to the notification criteria and provides notification to the user when a received communication meets the notification criteria.