A system and method allows users to make purchases by charging or funding a prepaid debit card with their cell phone accounts by simulating a user roaming with their mobile device.

A method and apparatus for providing a mobile service with the use of a code pattern is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprising: taking a photograph of a code pattern image, decoding the photographed code pattern image so as to obtain code information, extracting uniform resource locator (URL) information corresponding to the code information, transmitting a content information request message to a service provider server corresponding to the URL information, and receiving content information corresponding to the URL information from the service provider server. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide various and convenient mobile services to mobile terminal users using a mobile terminal, having a camera, and a code pattern containing the URL information.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, a home country associated with a current mobile telephone number for a mobile subscriber is identified. Other countries, such as the following are also identified: a country in which the mobile subscriber is using the internet; a country in which the mobile subscriber is roaming, is operating a current mobile telephone associated with the mobile subscriber's mobile provider account or is operating a current mobile telephone having a SIM card associated with the mobile subscriber's mobile account; a country in which a merchant for a transaction is located; and/or a country in which goods in the transaction, if any, are being shipped. The countries are compared and scoring is employed to facilitate identification of a suspicious transaction.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, a mobile subscriber is registered for authentication. Registering the mobile subscriber, in an embodiment, includes querying the mobile service provider of the mobile subscriber for an international mobile subscriber identifier (IMSI) of the mobile subscriber at the time of registration and creating an authentication database in which a database entry includes at least: a mobile telephone number for the mobile subscriber and the IMSI of the mobile subscriber.

Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.

A method and apparatus for providing a mobile service with the use of a code pattern is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprising: taking a photograph of a code pattern image, decoding the photographed code pattern image so as to obtain code information, extracting uniform resource locator (URL) information corresponding to the code information, transmitting a content information request message to a service provider server corresponding to the URL information, and receiving content information corresponding to the URL information from the service provider server. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide various and convenient mobile services to mobile terminal users using a mobile terminal, having a camera, and a code pattern containing the URL information.

A system and method allows users to make purchases by charging or funding a prepaid debit card with their cell phone accounts by simulating a user roaming with their mobile device.

Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.

An apparatus configured for transit application and methods for utilizing the apparatus for transit application is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a mobile communication device comprising a processor, a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, wherein the computer readable medium comprises code for receiving a first transit location, code for displaying options to select a second transit location, code for receiving a selection for a second transit location, and code for sending an authorization request message to an issuer associated with the mobile communication device.

A method and apparatus for providing a mobile service with the use of a code pattern is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprising: taking a photograph of a code pattern image, decoding the photographed code pattern image so as to obtain code information, extracting uniform resource locator (URL) information corresponding to the code information, transmitting a content information request message to a service provider server corresponding to the URL information, and receiving content information corresponding to the URL information from the service provider server. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide various and convenient mobile services to mobile terminal users using a mobile terminal, having a camera, and a code pattern containing the URL information.