Wireless pay telephone system using multiple subscriber identification module (SIM) cards
Systems and techniques for providing a telecommunications service by detecting a permanent subscriber identification module (SIM) card and a transitory SIM card in a wireless telephone. The permanent SIM card includes data associated with a primary user of the wireless telephone for connecting to a wireless network. The transitory SIM card includes data associated with a temporary user of the wireless telephone and having a pre-purchased amount of available airtime.
1 . A communications method comprising:
detecting a permanent subscriber identification module (SIM) card in a wireless telephone, the permanent SIM card including data associated with a primary user of the wireless telephone for connecting to a wireless network; and
detecting a transitory SIM card in the wireless telephone, the transitory SIM card including data associated with a temporary user of the wireless telephone and having a pre-purchased amount of available airtime.
2 . The communications method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting to the wireless network using at least one of the permanent SIM card and the transitory SIM card.
3 . The communications method of claim 2 , wherein the transitory SIM is used to connect to the wireless network.
4 . The communications method of claim 2 , wherein the permanent SIM card and the transitory SIM are used to connect to the wireless network.
5 . The communications method of claim 4 , wherein the permanent SIM is used to connect to the wireless network after the amount of available airtime is consumed.
6 . The communications method of claim 1 wherein the wireless network is at least one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular system.
7 . The communications method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a balance associated with the transitory SIM card.
8 . The communications method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a balance associated with the permanent SIM card.
9 . The communications method of claim 8 , wherein the balance associated with the permanent SIM card tracks generated revenue.
10 . The communications method of claim 1 , further comprising adding airtime to the transitory SIM card.
11 . A communications apparatus comprising:
at least one card reader structured and arranged to read a permanent subscriber identification module (SIM) card and a transitory SIM card when inserted into a wireless telephone, the permanent SIM card including data associated with a primary user of the wireless telephone for connecting to a wireless network, and the transitory SIM card including data associated with a temporary user of the wireless telephone and having a pre-purchased amount of available airtime.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a permanent SIM card.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the permanent SIM card is chip size.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a transitory SIM card.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the transitory SIM card is credit card size.
16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals.
17 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a processor for selecting the permanent SIM card or the transitory SIM card.
18 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a user interface for displaying information regarding at least one of the permanent SIM card and the transitory SIM card.
19 . A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions to:
detect a permanent subscriber identification module (SIM) card in a wireless telephone, the permanent SIM card including data associated with a primary user of the wireless telephone for connecting to a wireless network; and
detect a transitory SIM card in the wireless telephone, the transitory SIM card including data associated with a temporary user of the wireless telephone and having a pre-purchased amount of available airtime.
20 . The computer program of claim 19 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises at least one of a disk, a client device, a network device, and a propagated signal.