Method of recruiting a new subscriber to a communication services provider

摘要

An identity module (11) includes a memory (16, 18, 20) and a processor (12). In the memory (16, 18, 20) are stored installation code (50) for installing in the memory (16, 18, 20) a provider profile (24, 44, 46) that associates the identity module (11) with a communication services provider and communication code (54) that, in combination with the provider profile (24, 44, 46), supports communication by a host (82) of the identity module (11) using services of the communication services provider. The processor (12) executes the installation code (50) to install the provider profile (24, 44, 46) and then executes the communication code (54) in support of the communication. Preferably, no portion of any such communication suite is stored initially in the identity module (11). The host (82) requests the provider profile (24, 44, 46) from a server (84) that includes a communication interface (86) for communicating with the host (82), a memory (90) wherein is stored code for providing to the host (82) a customization suite that includes substantially all of the provider profile (24, 44, 46), and a processor (88) for executing the code. To recruit a new subscriber to a communication services provider, when a request is received, from a host (82) of an identity module (11) that lacks any portion of a provider profile (24, 44, 46) that associates the identity module (11) with a communication services provider, to provide a customization suite for installing substantially all of the provider profile (24, 44, 46) in the identity module (11), terms of usage are proposed to the host (82). If the host (82) consents to the terms of usage, the customization suite is sent to the host (82).