Rapid item authentication via conventional communication channels

A method for authenticating an item comprising at least one identification code, the method comprising:

• receiving, by an authentication manager from a mobile wireless device, information regarding the at least one identification code;
• determining, by the authentication manager, authentication information regarding the at least one identification code;
• and
• sending, by the authentication manager to the mobile wireless device in response to the information regarding the at least one identification code, the authentication information corresponding to the at least one identification code.

A mobile wireless device, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• at least one processor adapted to communicate with the wireless transceiver;
• and
• memory adapted to communicate with the at least one processor and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• send, via the wireless transceiver to an authentication manager, information regarding the at least one identification code;
• and
• receive, via the wireless transceiver from the authentication manager in response to the information regarding the at least one identification code, authentication information corresponding to the at least one identification code.

An authentication manager, comprising:

• a service interface component adapted to receive, from a mobile wireless device, information regarding at least one identification code associated with an item;
• an authenticating entity interface component;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the service interface component and the authenticating entity interface component and adapted to send the information regarding the at least one identification code to an authenticating entity via the authenticating entity interface component, and receive authentication information from the authenticating entity in response to the information regarding the at least one identification code via the authenticating entity interface component.

A system comprising:

• at least one mobile wireless device;
• and
• an authentication manager operably coupled to the at least one mobile wireless device,
• wherein each of the at least one mobile wireless device is adapted to send information regarding at least one identification code associated with an item to the authentication manager and receive, from the authentication manager in response to the information regarding the at least one identification code, authentication information corresponding to the at least one identification code.