Method and apparatus for updating a subscriber identity in a mobile communication device

1. A method for updating a subscriber identity in a mobile communication device on a wireless network, the mobile communication device including a subscriber module, the mobile communication device already personalized with an existing subscriber identity, the method comprising:

receiving, from the wireless network, a new subscriber identity at the mobile communication device already personalized with an existing subscriber identity; and

re-personalizing the mobile communication device o the new subscriber identity while the mobile communication device is still personalized to the existing subscriber identity.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising re-personalizing the mobile communication device by copying the new subscriber identity into a personalization list located on the mobile communication device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising initially personalizing the mobile communication device with the existing subscriber identity by:

reading the existing subscriber identity from an elementary tile on the subscriber module;

storing the existing subscriber identity in the mobile communication device; and

setting a personalization indicator to on.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving further comprises receiving a data download message from the wireless network at the mobile communication device already personalized with the existing subscriber identity, the data download message including the new subscriber identity.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising sending a second data download message to the subscriber module, the second data download message including the new subscriber identity.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising receiving a confirmation from the subscriber module, the confirmation confirming reception of the second data download message by the subscriber module.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving a subscriber identity refresh message from the subscriber module, the subscriber identity refresh message indicating a new subscriber identity in the subscriber module.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising sending a terminal response to the subscriber module, the terminal response acknowledging reception of the subscriber identity refresh message.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising verifying re-personalization with the security module using a security algorithm.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein re-personalizing further comprises copying a subscriber identity from an elementary file in the subscriber module to a memory in the mobile communication device.

11. A mobile communication device comprising:

a subscriber module;

a memory configured to store an initial subscriber identity;

a transceiver configured to receive a new subscriber identity from a wireless network; and

a controller coupled to the memory, the transceiver, and the subscriber module, the controller configured to control operations of the mobile communication device, the controller also configured to initially personalize the mobile communication device with the initial subscriber identity, the controller also configured to re-personalize the mobile communication device to the new subscriber identity while the mobile communication device is still personalized to the initial subscriber identity.

12. The mobile communication device according to claim 11 ,

wherein the memory comprises a personalization list, and

wherein the controller is further configured to re-personalize the mobile communication device by copying the new subscriber identity into the personalization list.

13. The mobile communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to initially personalize the mobile communication device by reading the existing subscriber identity from an elementary file on the subscriber module, storing the existing subscriber identity in the mobile communication device, and setting a personalization indicator to on.

14. The mobile communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to process a data download message received from the wireless network, the data download message including the new subscriber identity.

15. The mobile communication device according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to send a second data download message to the subscriber module, the second data download message including the new subscriber identity.

16. The mobile communication device according to claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a confirmation from the subscriber module, the confirmation confirming reception of the second data download message by the subscriber module.

17. The mobile communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to process a subscriber identity refresh message received from the subscriber module, the subscriber identity refresh message indicating a new subscriber identity in the subscriber module.

18. The mobile communication device according to claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to send a terminal response to the subscriber module, the terminal response acknowledging reception of the subscriber identity refresh message.

19. The mobile communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to verify re-personalization with the security module using a security algorithm.

20. The mobile communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to re-personalize the mobile communication device by copying a subscriber identity from an elementary file in the subscriber module to the memory of the mobile communication device.

21. A method for operating a mobile communication device including a subscriber module on a wireless network, the mobile communication device already personalized with a first subscriber identity, the method comprising:

receiving, from the wireless network, a second subscriber identity at the mobile communication device already personalized with an first subscriber identity;

re-personalizing the mobile communication device with the second subscriber identity by storing the second subscriber identity in a memory of the mobile communication device while keeping the mobile communication device personalized to the first subscriber identity;

reading a subscriber module subscriber identity from the subscriber module;

comparing the subscriber module subscriber identity with the second subscriber identity stored in the mobile communication device; and

blocking use of selected features of the mobile communication device if the subscriber module subscriber identity does not match the second subscriber identity stored in the memory of the mobile communication device.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein re-personalizing further comprises storing the second subscriber identity in an elementary file on the subscriber module.

23. The method according to claim 21 , wherein reading further comprises reading a subscriber module subscriber identity from the subscriber module when the mobile communication device is turned on.

24. The method according to claim 21 , wherein reading further comprises reading a subscriber module subscriber identity from the subscriber module when the subscriber module is inserted into the mobile communication device.

25. The method according to claim 21 , wherein receiving further comprises receiving a data download message from the wireless network at the mobile communication device already personalized with the first subscriber identity, the data download message including the second subscriber identity.