Abstract: A mobile phone configured to complete payment transactions while the mobile phone is in a low battery shut-off state. The mobile phone comprises a secure element configured to store payment cards, a near field communication transceiver, wherein the near field communication transceiver is configured to complete a payment transaction based on a payment card stored in the secure element, a memory, a processor and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application detects whether a power reserve is below a predefined threshold. When the power reserve is detected below the predefined threshold, the application prompts selection of a payment card stored in the secure element for use in completing payment transactions while the mobile phone is in a low battery shut-off state and configures one of the secure element or the near field communication transceiver to complete payment transactions using the selected payment card.

Abstract: A method for defining delays to support consistent tiered messaging performance is provided. The method comprises a query server receiving a message and the query server analyzing a class of service associated with the message. The method also comprises the query server injecting a defined delay prior to initiating processing of the message and the query server processing the message and storing the processed message in an outgoing queue. The method also comprises the query server sending a notification to a destination component that the message is available for retrieval and the query server releasing the message to the destination component upon request of the destination component.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that promotes user awareness of approaching a usage limit is provided, comprising a processor, a memory, and an application. When executed by the processor, the application installs a file describing a subscription plan documenting availability of at least one of wireless voice and data services, the subscription plan comprising a usage limit. The application also records a first usage of a first unit of a first service provided under the plan and increments a count of units of usage of the first service during a first usage period based on the record of the first usage. The application also detects the count of units of usage reaching a first predetermined threshold wherein the threshold is less than the usage limit. The application also presents a first message, the message providing notification of the count of units of usage reaching the threshold.

Abstract: Methods and products for providing an item of content to a mobile device in a prepaid context by way of a wireless telecommunications network are provided. One embodiment of a method includes receiving an indication that the item of content is desired to be communicated to a mobile device (which is associated with a certain customer); determining that the customer obtains wireless-telecommunications services by way of either a piecemeal plan or a recurring-fees plan; when the customer is associated with the piecemeal plan, determining that a remaining amount of the prepaid balance is insufficient to pay for the desired content (and thereby triggering a first follow-up process); and when the customer is associated with the recurring plan, determining that an immediate-payment option does not exist (and thereby triggering a second follow-up process).

Abstract: A media player is provided. The media player comprises a communications interface, a memory store containing a plurality of personalized advertisements, and a media playback component. The targeted advertisements are refreshed by receiving updates from the communications interface during some of the intervals when the media player is connected to a network. The targeted advertisements are indexed by a plurality of characteristics, the first characteristic being a creation date of the targeted advertisements. The media playback component is configured to play a media content, wherein the media content is stored separately from the targeted advertisements, and to play one of the targeted advertisements in the memory store selected based on the characteristics of the one of the targeted advertisements.

Abstract: A method for consolidating platform-specific messages is disclosed. The method comprises translating a first message in one of a plurality of platform-specific message formats into a second message in a generic message format and translating a third message in the generic message format to a fourth message in one of the plurality of platform-specific message formats. The method also comprises associating a plurality of messages that have been translated from the platform-specific message formats into the generic message format into at least one thread based on at least one of a plurality of threading fields for presentation. The method also comprises inserting at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth messages into a message database and managing the message database.

Abstract: A method of informing a portable electronic device of a number of available pre-paid text messages, comprising billing a pre-paid subscriber account for a predetermined number of text messages to be sent by a portable electronic device; incrementing a first count by an application executing on a computer based on the predetermined number of text messages purchased; determining by the application a second count indicating a remaining balance of text messages based on how many text messages have been one of received and sent by the portable electronic device since billing the pre-paid subscriber account based on the first count; and sending by the application a message comprising the second count to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A method of activating a mobile phone is provided. The method comprises scanning a code accessible from an exterior of a package by an electronic scanning device coupled to a first computer, the package containing the mobile phone and retrieving a plurality of information associated with the mobile phone from a data store based on the code, the retrieving performed by one of the first computer and a second computer. The method also comprises transmitting the plurality of information by the provisioning application to a wireless communication network to at least partly provision wireless communication service to the mobile phone, whereby the wireless communication network is triggered to activate the mobile phone, wherein the transmitting is performed by the same computer that retrieved the plurality of information.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided comprising a processor, a memory, a display, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, initiates a plurality of user agents that each indicate a different communication point. The portable electronic device also transmits a request for a content from each of the user agents to a content source, the requests being transmitted substantially concurrently. The portable electronic device also receives a plurality of contents, each content associated with one of the user agents and each content formatted differently than the remaining contents. The portable electronic also presents one of the contents on the display, wherein the portable electronic device promotes concurrent downloading of a content in multiple formats from the content source.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising processor, memory, and a provisioning application that receives a first message from a rating engine, the first message providing a first rating of a prepaid subscription account associated with a portable electronic device. The system also configures a first setting to a first index wherein the first setting is based on the first rating and wherein the first setting is associated with the device receiving access to services without further contact with the rating engine. The system also receives a second message from the rating engine, the second message providing a second rating of the account. The system also configures a second setting to the first index based on the second rating wherein the second setting replaces the first setting and the second setting is associated with contacting the rating engine before receiving access to services.

Abstract: A system is provided for push-to-talk voice messages. The system includes a processor and a voice message component. When executed by the processor, the voice message component identifies a request from a first handset to communicate with a second handset via push-to-talk communication, and determines whether the second handset is available. If the second handset is not available, the voice message component stores a voice communication associated with the request in an audio file identifies a voice mail storage associated with the second handset, and provides the audio file to the voice mail storage. The voice message component also informs the first handset that the second handset is not available and that the voice mail storage stores the voice communication.

Abstract: An alternative billing system for communication service, comprising a gateway comprising a processor and a memory, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, receives a text message from an originating electronic device, determines that an account balance associated with the originating electronic device lacks sufficient funds to pay for origination of the text message, sends a message to a terminating electronic device identified by the text message to inquire if the terminating electronic device wants to be billed for the origination of the text message, when a message accepting billing for the origination of the text message is received from the terminating electronic device, sends the text message to the terminating electronic device, and when a message rejecting billing for the origination of the text message is received from the terminating electronic device, does not send the text message to the terminating electronic device.

Abstract: A processor implemented method of providing personalized integrated audio is provided comprising a computer creating an audio stream to transmit to an audio play device and inserting a music from a source into the audio stream. The computer interrupts the insertion of the music and inserts a first audio message into the audio stream, wherein the first audio message is selected by the computer from subscribed information services based on at least one of a time and a place of the audio play device. The computer also inserts a second audio message into the audio stream, wherein the second message comprises information converted from a text format of a message addressed to a communication system of the audio play device to an audio format. After the completion of one of the first audio message and the second audio message, the computer resumes insertion of the music into the audio stream.

Abstract: An alarm device is provided. The alarm device comprises a processor, an alerting component, a communication interface, and an alarm application. The communication interface receives messages encapsulating an alarm control message from a third party. The alarm application, when executed by the processor, receives the message from the communication interface, validates the message based on a code embedded in the message, parses a body of the message to extract the encapsulated alarm control message, schedules an alarm event based on the body of the message, and activates the alerting component when the alarm event occurs.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and products utilize wireless-backup technologies to provide contact-reconciliation services with respect to sets of contacts stored on mobile devices. One embodiment of the inventions includes receiving an indication of an update event associated with a first set of contacts on a first mobile device, updating a remotely-stored copy of the first set of contacts, determining that a remotely-stored copy of a second set of contacts does not include a portion of contact information corresponding to the first mobile device, and updating the remotely-stored copy of the second set of contacts. In an embodiment, the remotely-stored copy of the second set of contacts is synchronized with the second set of contacts, thereby updating the second set of contacts.

Abstract: A method for defining delays to support consistent tiered messaging performance is provided. The method comprises a query server receiving a message and the query server analyzing a class of service associated with the message. The method also comprises the query server injecting a defined delay prior to initiating processing of the message and the query server processing the message and storing the processed message in an outgoing queue. The method also comprises the query server sending a notification to a destination component that the message is available for retrieval and the query server releasing the message to the destination component upon request of the destination component.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide text messages for services. A service component provides service options to a handset's user interface, receives a service option selection, and provides a first text message to a server based on the selection. The service component receives a second text message from the server in response to the first text message and provides the second text message to the user interface. The service component may provide interactive voice response system service options to the user interface if an entered number is associated with a specified service. The service component may provide and receive text messages as short message service messages via a handset wireless paging channel. The service component may provide short message service messages to the user interface via an interactive voice response system message. The second text message may include a prompt for a request to occasionally receive the second text message.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a computer with processor, memory, and an application establishing a communication link with a mobile device provisioned with a first service on a wireless network. At least a portion of the link is provided by a wireless link over infrastructure of the network. The system also instructs the device to deactivate a key guard of the device, maps a first service indicator for a first network to a second indicator for a second network, instructs a provisioning system to remove the first service indicator from a service configuration of the device, and instructs the provisioning system to add the second service indicator to the service configuration of the device. The system also instructs a voice mail server to migrate a first voice mail data structure for the device based on the first service to a second structure for the device based on a second service, deprovisions the first service, and provisions the second service.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided. The portable device comprises a wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages and a messaging client. The messaging client receives a first message from the wireless transceiver, wherein the first message is from a first peer messaging client, parses the first message to read a first message sequence count, compares the first message sequence count to a first expected message sequence count, and based on a miscompare of the first message sequence count with the first expected message sequence count transmits a corrective message to the wireless transceiver for transmitting to the first peer messaging client.

Abstract: A method of activating a mobile phone is provided. The method comprises scanning a code accessible from an exterior of a package by an electronic scanning device coupled to a first computer, the package containing the mobile phone and retrieving a plurality of information associated with the mobile phone from a data store based on the code, the retrieving performed by one of the first computer and a second computer. The method also comprises transmitting the plurality of information by the provisioning application to a wireless communication network to at least partly provision wireless communication service to the mobile phone, whereby the wireless communication network is triggered to activate the mobile phone, wherein the transmitting is performed by the same computer that retrieved the plurality of information.