Methods of configuring and using a wireless communications device

A method of operating a wireless communications device comprising a processing unit, a first antenna, and a second antenna, the method comprising:

• configuring a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna to perform wireless communications via the first antenna using a first protocol;
• and
• configuring an identification device, communicatively coupled to the second antenna and the processing unit, to perform wireless communications via the second antenna by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol;
• wherein, in accordance with the second protocol, the identification device uses a unique indicia as an identifier.

A method of enabling wireless transactions by a user communications device having a processing apparatus, an identification apparatus, and a location-determining apparatus, the method comprising:

• configuring the communication device to provide data related to a current location of the communications device using the location determining apparatus;
• enabling wireless communications between the device and a cellular communications network via a first wireless communication apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus;
• and
• configuring the communications device to communicate a unique identifier via a second wireless communication apparatus, the second wireless communication apparatus communicatively coupled to the processing apparatus and capable of modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogation apparatus;
• wherein:
• the location determining apparatus comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing apparatus.

A method of configuring a portable wireless communications device having a processing apparatus, an identification apparatus, and a location-determining apparatus, the method comprising:

• configuring the communication device to provide data related to a current location of the communications device using the location determining apparatus and a global positioning system (GPS);
• coupling a first wireless communication subsystem to a first antenna and the processing apparatus;
• enabling wireless communications between the communication device and a cellular communications network via the first antenna;
• operably coupling a second wireless subsystem. comprising the identification apparatus coupled to a second antenna, to the processing apparatus;
• and
• configuring the identification apparatus to generate a random number and to wirelessly communicate via the second antenna the random number as an identifier associated with the communications device by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field;
• wherein the second wireless subsystem is selectively switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.