Apparatus and methods for distributing credentials of mobile network operators

摘要

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting, by a first device including a least one processor and a first Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), a second device having a second UICC, detecting, by the first device, that the second UICC is unprovisioned, selecting, by the first device, one of a plurality of selectable options, where the selection identifies a first Mobile Network Operator (MNO) selected from a plurality of MNOs, receiving, by the first device, first credential information of the first MNO, and transmitting, by the first device, to the second device the first credential information for enabling the second device to facilitate establishment of communication services with network equipment of the first MNO according to the first credential information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

主权项

1. A machine-readable storage device, comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, by equipment of a first mobile network operator, a request initiated by a first portable communication device to select a service provided by a plurality of mobile network operators, wherein the first portable communication device includes a first universal integrated circuit card; transmitting, by the equipment of the first mobile network operator, information for presenting at a user interface of the first portable communication device a plurality of selectable options for selecting the service; detecting, by the equipment of the first mobile network operator, a selection from the plurality of selectable options, wherein the selection identifies a second mobile network operator from among the plurality of mobile network operators; receiving, by the equipment of the first mobile network operator, credential information of the second mobile network operator; and transmitting, by the equipment of the first mobile network operator, to the first portable communication device the credential information of the second mobile network operator to enable the first portable communication device to distribute the credential information of the second mobile network operator to a second universal integrated circuit card included in a second portable communication device, responsive to the first portable communication device detecting the second universal integrated circuit card in the second portable communication device and determining that the second universal integrated circuit card is not provisioned with the service of the second mobile network operator.