System and method of restricting endpoint identifiers in a communication system

1. A method for providing a mobile network code which identifies a network operations center to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

reading a first mobile network code from a removable data device inserted in the mobile terminal;

determining whether a fixed memory of the mobile terminal contains a second mobile network code; and

responsive to determining that the fixed memory of the mobile terminal does not contain the second mobile network code, writing the first mobile network code into the fixed memory of the mobile terminal as the second mobile network code,

wherein if the fixed memory does contain the second mobile network code and the first mobile network code does not match the second mobile network code, at least one non-emergency function of the mobile terminal, selected from a list comprising: transmission of a data message, reception of a data message, operation of a video function, operation of an audio function, and operation of a navigation function, is disabled, and

wherein the first mobile network code and the second mobile network code are Access Point Name (APN) of a Network Operations Center (NOC) or some other endpoint identifier of the NOC.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

rendering the fixed memory of the mobile terminal, containing the second mobile network code, read-only.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the fixed memory of the mobile terminal contains the second mobile network code comprises determining whether contents of the fixed memory of the mobile terminal comprise a valid mobile network code.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the first mobile network code comprises a valid mobile network code.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein reading a mobile network code from a removable data device comprises reading a mobile network code from a subscriber identity module card.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein disabling at least one non-emergency function of the mobile terminal comprises:

comparing a dialed number for an attempted voice call with a predefined list of emergency numbers; and

responsive to the dialed number not matching any of the predefined emergency numbers, preventing connectivity of the attempted voice call.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein disabling at least one non-emergency function of the mobile terminal comprises:

comparing an identified recipient for a data message with a predefined list of emergency contacts; and

responsive to the identified recipient not matching any of the predefined emergency contacts, preventing transmission of the data message.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the endpoint identifier is one or more of an internet protocol address, a port number, a uniform resource locator, and an email address.

9. A mobile terminal comprising:

a fixed memory, configured to allow a write-once operation; and

a processor, configured to:

read a first mobile network code from a removable data device inserted in the mobile terminal;

determine whether a fixed memory of the mobile terminal contains a second mobile network code; and

responsive to determining that the fixed memory of the mobile terminal does not contain the second mobile network code, write the first mobile network code into the fixed memory of the mobile terminal as the second mobile network code,

wherein if the fixed memory does contain the second mobile network code and the first mobile network code does not match the second mobile network code, at least one non-emergency function of the mobile terminal, selected from a list comprising: transmission of a data message, reception of a data message, operation of a video function, operation of an audio function, and operation of a navigation function, is disabled, and

wherein the first mobile network code and the second mobile network code are Access Point Name (APN) of a Network Operations Center (NOC) or some other endpoint identifier of the NOC.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether contents of the fixed memory of the mobile terminal comprise a valid mobile network code.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the removable data device comprises a subscriber identity module card.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to compare a dialed number for an attempted voice call with a predefined list of emergency numbers.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 9 further comprising an emergency call indicator control.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the endpoint identifier is one or more of an internet protocol address, a port number, a uniform resource locator, and an email address.