Account Based Handset Protection Coverage
Methods and means for device account based protection coverage are provided which allow for account holders to share a protection plan across a shared account, thereby covering a plurality of individual devices and discreet devices. Program users are able to manage their device protection in a manner more consistent with the way they use their device and services. Users are also able to purchase rate-tailored protection plans for all (or some) of the plurality of devices tied to the account, thereby facilitating cost-sharing of service fees with other members associated with the account. Account members can also share claims benefits across the protected group.
1 . A system for providing account based protection for a plurality of portable electronic devices, said system comprising:
means for bundling a plurality of discrete lines associated with a plurality of individual portable electronic devices; and
means for protecting against loss factors associated with said bundled lines across an account-based portable electronic device protection program.
2 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for automatically adding protection for new portable electronic devices added to the bundled protection program.
3 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for automatically removing protection for portable electronic devices disconnected from the bundled protection program.
4 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for sharing claims across the bundled protection program account.
5 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for sharing claim benefits across the bundled protection program.
6 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for establishing bundled protection account management.
7 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 6 , wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:
means for providing a plurality of account level reporting tools.
8 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 6 , wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:
means for providing tools for tracking claims and benefits across a bundled protection program account.
9 . The system for providing account based protection of claim 8 , wherein said means for providing tools for tracking claims and benefits across a bundled protection program further comprises:
means for providing a plurality of account level reporting tools.
10 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 6 , wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:
means for validating individual portable electronic devices covered by the bundled protection program account.
11 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 6 , wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:
means for providing product and protection services information.
12 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for adding a line of service to a bundled protection account at the time said line is first acquired.
13 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for adding a line of service to a bundled protection program during a predetermined time period window following the date on which a line is first acquired.
14 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for removing a line of service to a bundled protection program during a predetermined time period window following the date on which a line is first acquired.
15 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program.
16 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15 , wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:
means for billing on a single premium coverage basis.
17 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15 , wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:
means for billing on an added line coverage basis.
18 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15 , wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:
means for billing on a banded pricing basis.
19 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15 , wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:
means for discounting a total of all premiums on a bill after initial application of a predetermined rate.
20 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15 , wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:
means for applying a discount at a predetermined rate based on a total number of portable electronic devices protected under the program.
21 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for evaluating a claims request and authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied.
22 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 21 , wherein said means for authorizing issuance of a replacement device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied further comprises:
means for authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via direct delivery to a customer.
23 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 22 , wherein said means for authorizing issuance of a replacement device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied further comprises:
means for authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via direct delivery on an expedited basis after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined priority customer criteria has been satisfied.
24 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 21 , wherein said means for authorizing issuance of a replacement device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied further comprises:
means for authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via pickup at an authorized retail dealer.
25 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for extending a service provider contract commitment for any line of service in the bundled protection account.
26 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
means for replacing any portable electronic device on any line of service in the bundled protection account.
27 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of portable electronic devices further comprises a plurality of telephone handset devices.
28 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of portable electronic devices further comprises a plurality of personal digital assistants.
29 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete device identification number.
30 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete line number.
31 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete account number.
32 . The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises means for collecting pertinent data used to determine an associated protection coverage pricing model.