Business method for providing wireless communication services and network and system for delivering same

• US 20070202845A1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cricket Communications Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jarvis, Scot, Brink, Michael, Hutcheson, S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved business method for a wireless communication system. The improved business method, operations method, network and system of the present invention includes the steps of delivering cellular services to the mass market, reducing peak capacity, increasing overall capacity utilization, improving capital utilization, providing an “all-you-can-eat” pricing model, and designing capacity based upon where the users live, work, and play.

Claims

1. A business method for providing wireless communications services to one or more subscribers in return for payment of a charge, comprising:

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

determining a period of time within which the flat rate charge shall apply;

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

providing unlimited access to the wireless communications services for the flat rate during the period of time;

targeting a design of service to the user primarily from limited geographic areas in which the user substantially lives, works, and plays; and

determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use by the user of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

2. A business method for providing wireless communications services to one or more subscribers in return for payment of a charge, comprising:

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

determining a period of time within which the flat rate charge shall apply;

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

providing unlimited access to the wireless communications services for the flat rate during the period of time;

targeting a design of service to the user primarily from limited geographic areas in which the user substantially lives, works, and plays; and

determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the user during the period of time.

3. A business method for providing wireless communications services to one or more subscribers in return for payment of a charge, comprising:

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

determining a period of time within which the flat rate charge shall apply;

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

providing unlimited access to the wireless communications services for the flat rate during the period of time;

targeting a design of services to the user primarily from limited geographic areas in which the user substantially lives, works, and plays;

providing services to the user at a rate that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 500 minutes per month;

rendering charges to the user substantially in advance of receipt of the services; and

receiving payment from the user substantially in advance of receipt of the services.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use by the user of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the user during the period of time.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the period of time further comprises a predetermined time period.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising charging a flat rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $50 per month.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising charging a flat rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising adapting the wireless communications services as the user'"'"'s primary telephone service.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising maintaining the average revenue per user at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month, and wherein the operating expense per user is at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $26 per month.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

maintaining the average revenue per user at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month; and

maintaining the margin for the operator of the wireless communications services at greater than or equal to about 15%.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising maintaining a user churn rate of less than about 4% for users who have retained the services for about three or more months.

13. A business method for providing wireless communications services to one or more subscribers in return for payment of a charge, comprising:

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

determining a period of time within which the flat rate charge shall apply;

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

providing the user with a mobile handset having a limited standardized set of features and functions;

providing unlimited access to the wireless communications services for the flat rate during the period of time;

targeting a design of the services to the user primarily from limited geographic areas in which the user lives, works, and plays;

providing the user with a use rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 500 minutes of use of the services per month;

rendering the services to the user without requiring the user to execute a presubscription agreement;

rendering charges to the user in a billing statement that does not include detailed records of the user'"'"'s calls;

rendering charges to the user substantially in advance of receipt by the user of the services; and

receiving payment from the user substantially in advance of receipt by the user of the services.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use by the user of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the user during the period of time.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the period of time further comprises a predetermined time period.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising charging a flat rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $50 per month.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising charging a flat rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising adapting the wireless communications services as the user'"'"'s primary telephone service.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining the average revenue per user at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month, and wherein the operating expense per user is at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $26 per month.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

maintaining the average revenue per user at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month; and

maintaining the margin for the operator of the wireless communications services at greater than or equal to about 15%.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining a user churn rate of less than about 4% for users who have retained the services for about three or more months.