Method and apparatus for after-market vending of feature-provisioning software to third party mobile wireless communication devices

A method for vending feature-provisioning software to qualified mobile wireless communication devices manufactured by a first party but jointly serviced by other parties including at least one wireless service provider and a communication data relay service provider, said method comprising:

• maintaining an internet website having access to at least one down-loadable feature provisioning software jointly developed and/or owned by said first party and at least said communication data relay service provider;
• providing download access control software for use by a device user PC base unit to access said website via a user PC base unit that has (a) access to said website and (b) a wired connector for connection to a mobile wireless communication device;
• authenticating said mobile wireless communication device by data exchanges between said website and said user PC base unit as a qualified user device;
• effecting monetary payment for user-selected feature-provisioning software by data exchanges between said website and said user PC base unit;
• and
• if authenticated and monetary payment has been received, downloading the requested feature-provisioning software to said qualified user PC base unit via the internet.

A system for selectively vending feature-provisioning software qualified to mobile wireless communication devices manufactured by a first party but serviced by at least one other party including a wireless service provider, said system comprising:

• an internet website having access to at least one down-loadable feature provisioning software;
• download access control software disposed for use by a device user to access and use said website;
• means for authenticating said mobile wireless communication device by data exchanges with said website as a qualified user device suitable and authorized for receiving said feature-provisioning software;
• qualified suitable feature-provisioning software accessible at stated prices on said website for selection by a device user;
• means for effecting monetary payment by data exchanges with said website for user-selected feature-provisioning software;
• and
• means for downloading qualified user-selected feature-provisioning software via the internet if the requesting user device has been authenticated and monetary payment has been received.

A system for vending feature-provisioning software to qualified mobile wireless communication devices manufactured by a first party but jointly serviced by other parties including at least one wireless service provider and a communication data relay service provider, said system comprising:

• an internet website having access to at least one down-loadable feature provisioning software jointly developed and/or owned by said first party and at least said communication data relay service provider;
• download access control software disposed for use by a device user PC base unit to access said website via a user PC base unit that has (a) access to said website and (b) a wired connector for connection to a mobile wireless communication device;
• means for authenticating said mobile wireless communication device by data exchanges between said website and said user PC base unit as a qualified user device;
• means for effecting monetary payment by data exchanges between said website and said user PC base unit for user-selected feature-provisioning software;
• and
• means for downloading the requested feature-provisioning software to said qualified user PC base unit via the internet if the requesting user device has been authenticated and monetary payment has been received.

A machine readable medium on which is disposed at least one computer program which, when executed by at least one suitable computer, will effect a method for selectively vending feature-provisioning software to qualified mobile wireless communication devices manufactured by a first party but serviced by at least one other party including a wireless service provider, said method comprising:

• maintaining an internet website having access to at least one down-loadable feature provisioning software;
• providing download access control software for use by a device user to access and use said website;
• authenticating said mobile wireless communication device by data exchanges with said website as a qualified user device suitable and authorized for receiving said feature-provisioning software;
• providing qualified suitable feature-provisioning software at stated prices for selection by a device user;
• effecting monetary payment for the user-selected feature-provisioning software by data exchanges with said website;
• and
• if authenticated and monetary payment has been received, downloading the qualified user-selected feature-provisioning software via the internet.

A machine readable medium on which is stored at least one computer program which, when executed by at least one suitable computer, will effect a method for vending feature-provisioning software to qualified mobile wireless communication devices manufactured by a first party but jointly serviced by other parties including at least one wireless service provider and a communication data relay service provider, said method comprising:

• maintaining an internet website having access to at least one down-loadable feature provisioning software jointly developed and/or owned by said first party and at least said communication data relay service provider;
• providing download access control software for use by a device user PC base unit to access and use said website via a user PC base unit that has (a) access to said website and (b) a wired connector for connection to a mobile wireless communication device;
• authenticating said mobile wireless communication device by data exchanges between said website and said user PC base unit as a qualified user device;
• and
• if authenticated and monetary payment has been received, downloading the requested feature-provisioning software to said qualified user PC base unit via the internet.