SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING CREDIT BETWEEN SUBSCRIBERS OF DIFFERING TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS

摘要

A system for transferring credit between subscribers (12) of differing telecommunications carriers (14). The system involves a first subscriber (12a) sending a communication message (26), via a first communication device (16a), to a destination address (24) associated with a payment facilitator (22a) possessed by a first telecommunication carrier (14a). The communication message (26) includes the unique identifier of a second communication device (16b) possessed by a second subscriber (12b) of a second telecommunication carrier (14b) and the amount to be transferred. The payment facilitator (22a) of the first telecommunication carrier (14a) determines the identity of the first subscriber (12a) by ascertaining the unique identifier of the first communication device (16a). With this knowledge, the payment facilitator (22a) then operates to debit the credit balance the first subscriber (12a) has with the first communication device (16a) by a total transfer cost amount, which factors in the amount to be transferred in the communication message (26). At the same time the payment facilitator (22a) of the first telecommunications carrier (14a) interfaces with the payment facilitator (22b) of the second telecommunications carrier (14b) and instructs the payment facilitator (22b) of the second telecommunications carrier (14b) to credit the credit balance the second subscriber (12b) has with the second communication device (16b) by a total transferred amount, which also factors in the amount to be transferred in the communication message (26).