Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that manages utilization of mobile subscriber identity information including enabling use of such information by different communication devices. The use of the same mobile subscriber identity information by multiple devices can be based on locations and other mobile subscriber identity information can be assigned to devices based on the locations. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A system for providing help includes a preprogrammed kit that includes at least one digital assistant and a virtual private network repeater for connecting to a data provider for connecting the digital assistant to a server. A plurality of agent computers is connected to the server by a data network. The digital assistant is preprogrammed with a skill for recognizing a preprogrammed specific utterance and the digital assistant is pre-configured to connect with the virtual private network repeater. After the preprogrammed specific utterance is detected by the digital assistant, the digital assistant initiates a request for help to the server and upon receiving the request for the help, the server assigns one of the agent computers and forwards the request for help to the one of the agent computers.

An example method can comprise receiving an encoding parameter associated with a first content transmission. The encoding parameter can indicate a level of complexity to encode the first content transmission. The method can comprise selecting, based on the encoding parameter, a second content transmission. The second content transmission can be encoded at a second bit rate that is different than a first bit rate of the first content transmission. The method can also comprise generating a third content transmission. The third content transmission can comprise the second content transmission.

A method and system includes the ability for individuals to set up an ad hoc digital and voice network easily and rapidly to allow users to coordinate their activities by eliminating the need for pre-entry of data into a web or identifying others by name, phone numbers or email. This method is especially useful for police, fire fighters, military, first responders or other emergency situations for coordinating different organizations at the scene of a disaster to elevate conventional communication problems either up and down the chain of command or cross communication between different emergency units. The method and system provides that the users are only required to enter a specific Server IP address and an ad hoc event name, a password and perhaps the name of the particular unit.

An example method of assigning a telephone number to a user account in a communications system is provided. The method includes obtaining a mnemonic seed and obtaining a subset of telephone numbers filtered from a global telephone number pool based on the mnemonic seed. The alphanumeric representation of each telephone number in the subset is within a threshold Hamming distance of the mnemonic seed. The method further includes receiving an indication of a selected telephone number from the subset and assigning the selected telephone number to the user account.

A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.

A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining at a first directory server of a first regional call processing system whether a new name authority pointer associated with a telephone number is within a first geographic region of the first regional call processing system, transmitting the new name authority pointer to a first name server of the first regional call processing system for provisioning the name authority pointer to the first name server responsive to determining that the telephone number is located within the first geographic region, and transmitting the new name authority pointer to a second directory server for provisioning the new name authority pointer to a second name server of a second regional call processing system responsive to determining that the telephone number is not located within the first geographic region. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from a computer system, a request comprising a phone number, identifying a primary channel and one or more secondary channels based on, at least in part, respective performance data of the primary and secondary channels, sending a first message comprising a first text string via the primary channel to a destination device associated with the phone number, after sending the first message, determining that a conversion event for the message and the primary channel did not occur within a specified time period, and based on the determining, sending a second message comprising the first text string via a particular secondary channel to the destination device.

A method for safely and efficiently requesting transportation services through the use of mobile communications devices capable of geographic location is described. Individual and package transportation may be provided. New customers may be efficiently serviced, and the requester and transportation provider locations may be viewed in real time on the mobile devices.

A controlled-environment facility communications management system, and/or the like, receives an indication of an electronic communication request with a telephone number initiated by, or to, a resident of a controlled environment facility. The controlled-environment facility communications management system, and/or the like, accesses a line information database and determines, based on the contents of the line information database, whether the telephone number is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone number. The controlled-environment facility communications management system, and/or the like, takes action with respect to the electronic communication in response to identification of the telephone number as an IP telephone number.