Method for activating SIM cards

1. A method of activating a SIM card in a mobile telephone network using an ODA (On Demand Activation) application that operates on a computer with an associated ODA database, the ODA database ( 4 ) containing SIM card ( 1 ) information related to SIM cards to be activated, said information being associated with a code in the ODA database, the ODA ( 2 ) including a proxy ( 7 ) logically located between a HLR/AUC ( 5 ) (Home Location Register/Authentication Center) and a MSC/VLR ( 6 ) (Mobile Services Switching Centre), and a memory of a SIM card ( 1 ) containing said code, the method comprising the sequential steps of:

in a first step, when the SIM card is inserted into a mobile equipment and the mobile equipment is switched on, a message related to a registration procedure containing said code is sent from the mobile equipment to said proxy ( 7 ) via said MSC/VLR;

in a second step, said message is halted in said proxy ( 7 );

in a third step, said proxy ( 7 ) is arranged to direct a message, containing said code, to said ODA application ( 2 , 4 );

in a fourth step, ODA ( 2 ) is connected to a HLR-T/AUC-T (Temporary Home Location Register/Authentication Center) in the mobile telephone network ( 5 ) in order to transfer information stored on said SIM card;

in a fifth step, HLR-T/AUC-T sends information to said ODA ( 2 ) which state that a temporary subscription is ready for use;

in a sixth step, said proxy ( 7 ) relays the halted message to said HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 );

in a seventh step, when said proxy ( 5 ) relays the halted message to said HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ), the ODA ( 2 ) is connected to the SIM-card in order to update the SIM-card with a card definition file including permanent subscription data; and

in an eight step, the ODA ( 2 ) is connected to a HLR/AUC ( 5 ) in order to transfer information stored on said updated SIM card,

whereby the HLR/AUC is arranged to set up a permanent subscription.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said code is a temporary IMSI (IMSI-T).

3. The method according to claim 2 ,

wherein the SIM cards ( 1 ) to be activated include said temporary IMSI (IMSI-T), and

wherein said ODA ( 2 ) stores, for each SIM card, ( 1 ) a IMSI-T and a card definition file.

4. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein, when said proxy ( 7 ) relays the halted message to said HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ), a permanent subscription together with additional information is caused to be provisioned by said ODA ( 2 ) in said or another network for permanent use, and

wherein IMSI-T is deleted in HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ).

5. The method according to claim 2 ,

wherein, when said proxy ( 7 ) relays the halted message to said HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ), a permanent subscription together with additional information is caused to be provisioned by said ODA ( 2 ) in said or another network for permanent use, and

wherein IMSI-T is deleted in HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ).

6. The method according to claim 3 ,

wherein, when said proxy ( 7 ) relays the halted message to said HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ), a permanent subscription together with additional information is caused to be provisioned by said ODA ( 2 ) in said or another network for permanent use, and

wherein IMSI-T is deleted in HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ).

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said temporary subscription based on said code, which comprises a temporary IMSI, IMSI-T, is created in the HLR-T/AUC-T ( 5 ).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the halted message is a MAP SAI (Send Authentication Information) message.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the halted message is a MAP SAI (Send Authentication Information) message.

10. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the halted message is a MAP SAI (Send Authentication Information) message.

11. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the halted message is a MAP SAI (Send Authentication Information) message.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the halted message is a MAP SAI (Send Authentication Information) message.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the halted message is a Map UL (Update Location) message.

14. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the halted message is a Map UL (Update Location) message.

15. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the halted message is a Map UL (Update Location) message.

16. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the halted message is a Map UL (Update Location) message.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the SIM cards ( 1 ) are cards for prepaid telephone service.

18. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the additional information includes any of an IMSI, MSISDN, type of subscription, an authentication key (Ki), and billing information.

19. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the additional information includes any of an IMSI, MSISDN, type of subscription, an authentication key (Ki), and billing information.

20. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the additional information includes any of an IMSI, MSISDN, type of subscription, an authentication key (Ki), and billing information.