Network Systems and Methods Utilizing Mobile Devices to Enhance Consumer Experience

A method for operating a mobile device to charge a wireless service account as payment in a transaction, the method comprising:

• a mobile device establishing a connection with a transaction terminal;
• the mobile device communicating with the transaction terminal for completing a transaction, including:
• the mobile device transmitting to the transaction terminal a customer identification used by the transaction terminal to determine whether a wireless service account identified by the customer identification is authorized to be charged as payment in the transaction;
• the mobile device receiving a notification from the transaction terminal that the wireless service account is authorized to be used as payment in the transaction;
• and
• in response to receiving the notification, the mobile device instructing the transaction terminal to charge the wireless service account as payment in the transaction.

A method for operating a transaction terminal to charge a wireless service account as payment for a transaction, the method comprising:

• a transaction terminal receiving from a mobile device a customer identification identifying a customer associated with a wireless service account;
• the transaction terminal communicating with a billing system of a wireless service provider network to provide the customer identification to determine whether the wireless service account is authorized to be used as payment in a transaction;
• the transaction terminal receiving a notification from the billing system indicating whether the wireless service account is authorized to be used as payment in the transaction;
• the transaction terminal generating a charge request comprising an amount to be charged to the wireless service account;
• and
• the transaction terminal transmitting the charge request to the billing system thereby instructing the billing system to charge the amount to the wireless service account.