System and method for global real-time account tracking

A system for real-time account tracking, comprising:

• a dynamic distributed database system for storing account information, the database system including a plurality of individual databases located in a plurality of geographically dispersed regions, wherein each database serves as a home database for certain accounts;
• at least one variable entry for each account that indicates the current location of the account in the distributed database system;
• means for determining whether the account is in the correct database;
• and
• means for transferring the account information from one database to another if it is determined that the account is not in the correct database.

A method for real-time account tracking in a pre-paid cellular telecommunications system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a dynamic distributed database system for storing account information, the database system including a plurality of individual databases located in a plurality of geographically dispersed regions, wherein each database serves as a home database for certain accounts and includes at least one variable entry for each account that indicates the current location of the account in the distributed database system;
• determining the location of a pre-paid cellular customer who has an account with the system;
• determining whether the customer's account is stored in the correct database;
• and
• transferring the customer's account information from one database to another if it is determined that the account is not in the correct database.