Abstract: An online auction system for facilitating acquisition of telecommunications services includes an online auction facility operable to facilitate an online auction and to permit a telecommunications service to be auctioned to a high bidder. The online auction system also includes a service provider system that is coupled to the online auction facility via an electronic data network. The service provider system is operable to automatically provide the telecommunications service to the high bidder automatically when the high bidder wins the online auction.

Abstract: System and method for facilitating consolidated billing within a converging telecommunications network. The system and method include and involve a network resource control facility communicating with and controlling a plurality of network resources within a merged telecommunications network to deliver at least one merged communications service. Each network resource is configured to provide a communications function and to generate corresponding rating data. The network resource control facility is configured to collect the rating data from at least one network resource from the plurality of network resources in real-time related to at least one telecommunications service provided within said telecommunications network to generate rating data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating routing of a call along a path of least resistance in a network based on the real-time capacity of network devices. The systems and methods are directed towards a first network device that receives a call (voice or data) to route to a destination device within the network; a plurality of in-sequence devices each configured to receive and route calls to other devices within the network, each in-sequence device having an associated capacity; and a control facility coupled to the network and configured to communicate with and control disparate devices within the network, to receive the capacity from each of in-sequence devices and to route the call from the first device to at least one of the in-sequence devices based on the capacity of at least one of the in-sequence devices, thus terminating the call at the destination device.

Abstract: An online name your price system for facilitating acquisition of telecommunications services includes an online name your price facility operable to facilitate an online name your price and to permit a telecommunications service to be provided to a consumer. The online name your price system also includes a service provider system that is coupled to the online name your price facility via an electronic data network. The service provider system is operable to automatically provide the telecommunications service to the high bidder automatically when the high bidder wins the online name your price.

Abstract: System and method for facilitating paperless transactions related to local and long distance type telecommunications services provided within a telecommunications network. Such new and improved systems and methods include and involve a telecommunications network wherein at least one local or long distance type communications service is provided to a customer, and a paperless services system that is coupled to the telecommunications network via an electronic data network such as the Internet and World Wide Web (www). The telecommunications network and the electronic data network may be one in the same. The paperless services system is configured to be accessed by the customer via the electronic data network to enable the customer to engage in at least one paperless transaction related to the communications service(s) provided to the customer within the telecommunications network.

Abstract: System and method for facilitating consolidated billing within a converging telecommunications network. The system and method include and involve a network resource control facility communicating with and controlling a plurality of network resources within a merged telecommunications network to deliver at least one merged communications service. Each network resource is configured to provide a communications function and to generate corresponding billing data. The network resource control facility is configured to consolidate the billing data from at least one network resource from the plurality of network resources in real-time related to at least one telecommunications service provided within said telecommunications network to generate consolidated billing data.

Abstract: System and method for facilitating consolidated billing within a converging telecommunications network. The system and method include and involve a network resource control facility communicating with and controlling a plurality of network resources within a merged telecommunications network to deliver at least one merged communications service. Each network resource is configured to provide a communications function and to generate corresponding billing data. The network resource control facility is configured to consolidate the billing data from at least one network resource from the plurality of network resources in real-time related to at least one telecommunications service provided within said telecommunications network to generate consolidated billing data.