Method and system for operating a communication service portal

A system for providing communication service, comprising:

• a fulfillment interface operable to receive information from a user and to generate a service request that includes user identification information and first communication service criteria, wherein the user identification information identifies the user and wherein the first communication service criteria describe a first communication service requested by the user;
• first communication access equipment operated by a communication service provider and operable to support communication for premise equipment over a first network and to establish service for a user in response to a service order received by the communication service provider;
• an equipment provider interface operable to receive an equipment order and to facilitate the provision of premise equipment identified by the equipment order to the user;
• and
• a portal operable to:
• receive the service request from the fulfillment interface;
• generate a first communication service order based on the first communication service criteria, wherein the first communication service order includes the user identification information and the communication service criteria;
• select premise equipment for the user, the premise equipment operable to support packet-based communication at a premise associated with the user;
• generate an equipment order, wherein the equipment order includes the user identification information and identifies the selected premise equipment;
• transmit the first communication service order to the first service provider;
• and
• transmit the equipment order to the equipment provider through the equipment provider interface.

Logic for providing communication service, the logic encoded in media and operable to:

• receive user identification information and first communication service criteria, wherein the user identification information identifies a user and wherein the first communication service criteria describe a packet-based communication service requested by the user;
• generate a first communication service order based on the first communication service criteria, wherein the first communication service order includes the user identification information and the communication service criteria;
• select premise equipment for the user, the premise equipment operable to support packet-based communication at a premise associated with the user;
• generate an equipment order, wherein the equipment order includes the user identification information and identifies the selected premise equipment;
• transmit the first communication service order to a first service provider;
• and
• transmit the equipment order to an equipment provider.

A system for providing communication service, comprising:

• means for receiving user identification information and first communication service criteria, wherein the user identification information identifies a user and wherein the first communication service criteria describe a packet-based communication service requested by the user;
• means for generating a first communication service order based on the first communication service criteria, wherein the first communication service order includes the user identification information and the first communication service criteria;
• means for selecting premise equipment for the user, the premise equipment operable to support packet-based communication at a premise associated with the user;
• means for generating an equipment order, wherein the equipment order includes the user identification information and identifies the selected premise equipment;
• means for transmitting the first communication service order to a first service provider;
• and
• means for transmitting the equipment order to an equipment provider.