Global platform for managing subscriber identity modules

1. A system operating in a mobile wireless network comprising:

a first home location register HLR containing a plurality of subscriber identifications, the first home location register associated with a local region or network of the mobile wireless network; and

a provisioning server coupled to the first HLR and configured to communicate with the mobile wireless network including a plurality of mobile switching centers MSCs and a plurality of mobile devices operating in the mobile wireless network, wherein the provisioning server:

is arranged to receive a signal from the mobile wireless network specifying a location of a first mobile device having a first subscriber identification and operating in the mobile wireless network under appropriate first criteria, the location being a roaming location relative to the local region or network,

is configured to provision the first HLR to add a second subscriber identification corresponding to the first mobile device and the location, the second subscriber identification selectably assigned for a roaming network different to the local region or network when it is determined that a mismatch exists between the first subscriber identification and a network code for the roaming network in which the first mobile device has moved and is active, and

is arranged to transmit data identifying the second subscriber identification to the first mobile device to allow the first mobile device to make the second subscriber identification the active subscriber identification for the first mobile device thereby to allow the first mobile device to re-establish connection and to operate in the mobile wireless network in the roaming network under appropriate second criteria different to the first criteria, the second criteria selected to avoid roaming charges for the first wireless device during its time in the roaming network; and wherein

the second subscriber identification is selected based at least in part on one or more of the following:

i) the roaming network,

ii) the roaming network identification,

iii) a base station with which the first mobile device is communicating, and/or

iv) a local country associated with the roaming network;

and wherein the first HLR is configured to communicate authentication data to the mobile wireless network to allow the first mobile device to operate under the second criteria in the mobile wireless network.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first HLR is configured to communicate authentication data to one of the MSCs operating in the mobile wireless network so that the first mobile device operates under the second criteria in the mobile wireless network.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a subscriber identification includes a country code.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a subscriber identification includes a network code.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a subscriber identification includes a country code and at least one network code.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a subscriber identification includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI.

7. A method of operating a mobile wireless network having a plurality of mobile switching centers “MSCs”, a plurality of mobile devices operating in the mobile wireless network and a first home location register HLR containing a plurality of subscriber identifications, the first home location register associated with a local region or network of the mobile wireless network, the method comprising:

at a provisioning server coupled to a first HLR and configured to communicate with the mobile wireless network, receiving a signal from a mobile wireless network specifying a location of a first mobile device having a first subscriber identification and operating in the mobile wireless network under first criteria, the location being a roaming location relative to the local region or network;

provisioning a first home location register HLR by the provisioning server to add a second subscriber identification corresponding to the first mobile device and the location, the second subscriber identification selectably assigned for a roaming network different to the local region or network when it is determined that a mismatch exists between the first subscriber identification and a network code for the roaming network in which the first mobile device has moved and is active; and

transmitting data identifying the second subscriber identification to the first mobile device to allow the first mobile device to make the second subscriber identification the active subscriber identification for the first mobile device thereby to allow the first mobile device to re-establish connection and to operate in the mobile wireless network in the roaming network under second criteria different to the first criteria, the second criteria selected to avoid roaming charges for the first wireless device during its time in the roaming network, and wherein

the second subscriber identification is selected based at least in part on one or more of the following:

i) the roaming network,

ii) the roaming network identification,

iii) a base station with which the first mobile device is communicating, and/or

iv) a local country associated with the roaming network;

and wherein the first HLR communicates authentication data to the mobile wireless network so that the first mobile device operates under the second criteria in the mobile wireless network.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first HLR communicates authentication data to one of the MSCs operating in the mobile wireless network so that the first mobile device operates under the second criteria in the mobile wireless network.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a subscriber identification includes a country code.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein a subscriber identification includes a network code.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a subscriber identification includes a country code and at least one network code.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein a subscriber identification includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI.