APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AN ELECTRONIC TELEPHONE WALLET AND/OR COMMUNICATION DEVICE WALLET

1 . A method of electronic commerce, the method comprising:

storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at a storage device of a central processing computer;

receiving by the central processing computer from a first remote communication device a first payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device; and

transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer;

wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing a first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the first remote communication device, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the central processing computer through the first remote communication device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first transaction comprises a purchase of a first subject of transaction by the first user, the first subject of transaction being a good or a service,

the method further comprising:

consummating the first transaction between the first user and the first merchant.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving by the central processing computer from the first remote communication device order information associated with the first transaction.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the remote communication device is a wireless communication device.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the remote communication device comprises a telephone.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising storing a second pre-specified payment identifier of the first user at the storage device of the central processing computer.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving by the central processing computer from a selected remote communication device of the first user a second payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the second payment command by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;

transmitting to a selected merchant computer of a selected merchant, by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the second pre-specified payment identifier to the selected merchant computer; and

consummating a second transaction between the first user and the selected merchant.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the selected merchant is a second merchant, the second merchant being different from the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is a merchant computer of the second merchant, the selected merchant computer being different from the first merchant computer.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the selected merchant is the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is the first merchant computer.

10 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving by the central processing computer from a selected remote communication device of the first user a second payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the second payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;

transmitting to a selected merchant computer of a selected merchant, by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the selected merchant computer; and

consummating a second transaction between the first user and the selected merchant.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected merchant is a second merchant, the second merchant being different from the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is a merchant computer of the second merchant, the selected merchant computer being different from the first merchant computer.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected merchant is the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is the first merchant computer.

13 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

storing a second pre-specified payment identifier of a second user at the storage device of the central processing computer;

receiving by the central processing computer from a remote communication device of the second user a second payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the second payment command by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier of the second user from the storage device;

transmitting to a selected merchant computer of a selected merchant, by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the second user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the second pre-specified payment identifier to the selected merchant computer; and

consummating a second transaction between the second user and the selected merchant;

wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the second user to cause a payment corresponding to the second payment command to be made to the selected merchant for processing the second transaction without storing the second pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the second user.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the selected merchant is a second merchant, the second merchant being different from the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is a merchant computer of the second merchant, the selected merchant computer being different from the first merchant computer.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the selected merchant is the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is the first merchant computer.

16 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-specified payment identifier comprises an account number of the first user, the account number being selected from the group consisting of a credit account number and a debit account number.

17 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-specified payment identifier comprises expiration date of an account of the first user.

18 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-specified payment identifier comprises confidential information used to verify identity of the first user.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the confidential information comprises mother's maiden name of the first user.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the confidential information comprises a password.

21 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the steps of receiving and transmitting is performed at least in part over the Internet.

22 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the steps of receiving and transmitting is performed at least in part over a satellite communication network.

23 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the steps of receiving and transmitting is performed at least in part over a wireless communication network.

24 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising storing at the central processing computer information regarding the first merchant and at least one other merchant.

25 . A processing computer comprising:

a storage device; and

a processing device coupled to the storage device;

wherein the processing computer is configured to perform steps of a method of electronic commerce, the method comprising:

storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at a storage device of a central processing computer;

receiving by the central processing computer from a remote communication device of the first user a first payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;

transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer; and

consummating a first transaction between the first user and the first merchant;

wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing the first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the first user, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the central processing computer through the remote communication device of the first user.

26 . The processing computer of claim 25 , further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the processor, wherein the processing computer is further configured to perform the step of receiving through the receiver; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the processing computer is further configured to perform the step of transmitting through the transmitter.

27 . A processing computer comprising:

a means for storing; and

a means for processing coupled to the means for storing;

wherein the processing computer is configured to perform steps of a method of electronic commerce, the method comprising:

storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at the means for storing of the processing computer;

receiving by the processing computer from a remote communication device of the first user a first payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the means for storing;

transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the means for storing, whereby the first user is enabled to request the processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer; and

consummating a first transaction between the first user and the first merchant;

wherein the processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing the first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the first user, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the processing computer through the remote communication device of the first user.

28 . A memory device storing software for performing a method of electronic commerce at a central processing computer, the method comprising steps of:

storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at a storage device of the central processing computer;

receiving by the central processing computer from a remote communication device of the first user a first payment command;

retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;

transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer; and

consummating a first transaction between the first user and the first merchant;

wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing the first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the first user, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the central processing computer through the remote communication device of the first user.