System, method and computer program product for prepaid and wireless voice communication and IP

1. A method for providing a digital wallet for Internet Protocol (IP) usage utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

(a) prior to allowing wireless network voice communication and IP usage over a wireless network, receiving a request for a pre-paid debit account including payment therefor;

(b) prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network, enabling the pre-paid debit account in response to the request;

(c) collecting payment for the wireless network voice communication over the wireless network by billing against the pre-paid debit account; and

(d) collecting payment for the IP usage by billing against the pre-paid debit account, wherein the IP usage is carried out using the wireless network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the request is received via a mobile cellular hand set, and the pre-paid debit account is enabled by a human operator.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless network voice communication uses the wireless network via a mobile cellular handset.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless network voice communication uses Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the IP usage includes data transfer utilizing IP.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the IP usage includes payment for goods or services utilizing IP.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , and further comprising transferring the payment from a previous pre-paid debit account before enabling the pre-paid debit account in response to the request.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a balance of the pre-paid debit account is updated in real-time.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein an alert is sent to a user upon the pre-paid debit account falling below a predetermined amount.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage is discontinued upon the pre-paid debit account falling below a predetermined amount.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the payment is received via a credit account.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , and further comprising the step of limiting the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage based on a user-defined threshold.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the user-defined threshold limitation expires after a predetermined time period.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the user-defined threshold limitation expires upon receipt of a key.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein another user may engage in the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage upon receipt of the key.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of users may engage in the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage using a single pre-paid debit account.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , and further comprising the step of limiting the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage for each of the users based on a single threshold associated with the pre-paid debit account.

18. A computer program product embodied on a tangible computer readable medium for providing a digital wallet for Internet Protocol (IP) usage utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving a request for a pre-paid debit account including payment therefore, prior to allowing wireless network voice communication and IP usage over a wireless network;

(b) computer code for enabling the pre-paid debit account in response to the request, prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network;

(c) computer code for collecting payment for the wireless network voice communication over the wireless network by billing against the pre-paid debit account; and

(d) computer code for collecting payment for the IP usage by billing against the pre-paid debit account, wherein the IP usage is carried out using the wireless network.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein the request is received via a mobile cellular hand set, and the pre-paid debit account is enabled by a human operator.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein the wireless network voice communication uses the wireless network via a mobile cellular handset.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein the wireless network voice communication uses Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

22. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein the IP usage includes data transfer utilizing IP.

23. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein the IP usage includes payment for goods or services utilizing IP.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , and further comprising computer code for transferring the payment from a previous pre-paid debit account before enabling the pre-paid debit account in response to the request.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein a balance of the pre-paid debit account is updated in real-time.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 25 , wherein an alert is sent to a user upon the pre-paid debit account falling below a predetermined amount.

27. The computer program product as recited in claim 25 , wherein the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage is discontinued upon the pre-paid debit account falling below a predetermined amount.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein the payment is received via a credit account.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , and further comprising computer code for limiting the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage based on a user-defined threshold.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 29 , wherein the user-defined threshold limitation expires after a predetermined time period.

31. The computer program product as recited in claim 29 , wherein the user-defined threshold limitation expires upon receipt of a key.

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 31 , wherein another user may engage in the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage upon receipt of the key.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 18 , wherein a plurality of users may engage in the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage using a single pre-paid debit account.

34. The computer program product as recited in claim 33 , and further comprising computer code for limiting the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage for each of the users based on a single threshold associated with the pre-paid debit account.

35. A system, comprising:

a processor for:

receiving a request for a pre-paid debit account including payment therefor, prior to allowing wireless network voice communication and IP usage over a wireless network;

enabling the pre-paid debit account in response to the request, prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network;

collecting payment for the wireless network voice communication over the wireless network by billing against the pre-paid debit account; and

collecting payment for the IP usage by billing against the pre-paid debit account, wherein the IP usage is carried out using the wireless network.

36. A method for providing a digital wallet for Internet Protocol (IP) usage utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

(a) prior to allowing wireless network voice communication and IP usage over a wireless network, receiving a request for a pre-paid debit account from a user utilizing a mobile communication unit;

(b) prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network, receiving an account identifier associated with a previous account of the user which is adapted solely for voice communications;

(c) prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network, authenticating an identity of the user;

(d) prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network, enabling a pre-paid debit account;

(e) prior to allowing the wireless network voice communication and the IP usage over the wireless network, transferring monies associated with the previous account to the pre-paid debit account;

(f) collecting payment for the wireless network voice communication over the wireless network by billing against the pre-paid debit account; and

(g) collecting payment for the IP usage by billing against the pre-paid debit account, wherein the IP usage is carried out using the wireless network.