Commercially subsidized mobile communication devices and services

摘要

Mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, may be capable of recommending to a user various providers of one or more solicited services, e.g., by identifying a user location and identifying providers near the user location that provide the services, and by initiating a call between the user and a selected provider. However, the equipment and service costs of such devices may be prohibitive, particularly for mid-range mobile communication devices that may appeal to cost-conscious users. The prohibitive costs may be diminished by redirecting part or all of the cost of providing the recommendation service from the providers, e.g., by charging the provider a service cost upon initiating a call from the user to the provider, or upon representing the provider in a provider database. In one such embodiment, all service costs may be borne by providers, providing to the user a free recommendation service via the mobile communication device.

主权项

1. A method of connecting a user of a mobile communication device with at least one provider of a service solicited by the user, the mobile communication device having a processor and access to a provider database identifying, for respective providers, at least one service provided by the provider, the mobile communication device coupled with a service cost, the method comprising:
executing on the processor instructions configured to:
upon detecting a user query of at least one solicited service:
identify in the provider database at least one provider offering the solicited service, andpresent to the user the at least one provider;upon detecting a user selection of a selected provider, present to the user an option to initiate a communication session between the user and the selected provider; andupon detecting a communication session between the user and the selected provider, charge to the selected provider of the solicited service at least a portion of the service cost.