According to various embodiments, an open phone device providing free access to subscribers upon purchase of the device is disclosed. The device may be a mobile device. The device may further include device layer capabilities allowing subscribers to purchase the device at a subsidized cost without any recurring monthly expenses. The device may further include a single integrated service offered to customers to purchase the device and use free data services. The device may be pre-loaded with free data apps.

An environment is described in which a processing system provides application-level usage information to users. In one scenario, for example, the processing system may provide personal usage information to a user who is operating a user device. The personal usage information itemizes the amount of data (and/or other resources) that has been consumed by each application run by the user device. In another scenario, the processing system may provide expected usage information associated with at least one candidate application provided by a marketplace system. The expected usage information describes an expected consumption of data (and/or other resources) by the candidate application upon running the candidate application by the user device. The processing system can tailor the expected usage information that it sends to a particular user based on user profile data. The user profile data describes a manner in which users operate applications.

Embodiments attribute network data transfers to applications executing on a computing device. A data transfer service executes on the computing device to receive and process data transfer requests. The data transfer requests, populated by the applications, have identifiers attributed thereto to enable monitoring of the network data transfers per identifier. For example, network data transfers associated with different mail accounts of a mail program or different web sites of browser are attributed separately. Data usage statistics relating to the network data transfers for each identifier may be generated and presented to the user for review.

A method and system of detecting a delinquent mobile user device. An international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the user device is determined by the user device. The IMSI is sent to a Remote Recovery Server (RRS). A message is received from the RRS as to whether the IMSI is authorized for the user device. Upon determining that the IMSI is not authorized for the user device, a notification is displayed on a display of the user device.

This disclosure sets forth techniques that aggregate and analyze data usage of a client device over a communications network. Particularly, data usage may be quantified over a predetermined time interval and used to provide recommendations that instruct a client on techniques for reducing a data usage rate. Recommendations may be presented as visual and/or audible alerts. This disclosure further describes techniques to dynamically alter data usage characteristics of particular data usage events to reduce a current rate of data usage. Computational instructions may dynamically reduce a file size of a multimedia/data file, limit a capability to download a multimedia/data file, or reduce a data usage rate of a multimedia stream via trans-rating or pacing techniques. Additionally, exemplary user interfaces may facilitate customizing data usage monitoring settings. The exemplary user interfaces may enable a client to customize a graphical representation of data usage over a predetermined period of time.

Shared usage plans are popular with families, friends, and small businesses. These shared usage plans share some cumulative utilization of resources, such as communications services. Even though multiple devices may share a monthly allotment of resources, an individual threshold is established for each device. The multiple individual thresholds may then be dynamically regulated to maintain the monthly allotment of resources.

A wireless end-user device operates a network data traffic classifier and a policy enforcer in a kernel space and a service monitoring and reporting agent and a policy control agent in the user space. The user can accordingly view and set application network data traffic policies and view application network data usage, with the traffic classification/policy enforcement functions provided securely and efficiently within the kernel, through which the network data traffic flows to a modem.

A method and system of restoring a functionality of a mobile user device. A lock screen is displayed on the display of the user device. An international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card presently installed in the user device is determined. The IMSI is sent to a Remote Recovery Server (RRS). A message is received from the RRS indicating whether the IMSI is authorized for the user device and whether an account of the user device is replenished at least in part. Upon determining that the IMSI is authorized for the user device and the account of the user device is replenished at least in part, at least one function that was previously restricted is restored.

A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, to allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him or her, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his or her local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list.

A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, to allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him or her, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his or her local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list.