Enhanced communication platform and related communication method using the platform

A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions performed by at least one computer to provide a method of providing pre-authorized communication services and transactions using a plurality of external networks of different types and which is external to a platform, the method comprising:

• accepting a request from a user via a corresponding one of the plurality of external networks, the request requesting at least one of a communication service or a transaction;
• verifying that the user is authorized to receive the at least one of the communication service or the transaction, and that an account associated with the user has a sufficient value available for payment;
• and
• charging in real time at the platform outside of the external networks, using rating engines that dynamically calculate charges, an account associated with the user while the platform controls an element of a corresponding one of the external networks from the platform to provide by any one of a plurality of different service and transaction providers the at least one of the communication service or the transaction and authorizing the transaction if the accepting and verifying is successful.

A method of crediting a pre-authorized account of a user, comprising:

• sending a notification to the user at a transceiver that the pre-authorized account needs additional credit;
• receiving a response message from the user sent from the transceiver and including a number associated with the user;
• sending a request from a first platform to a second platform to obtain the additional credit from another account associated with the user and maintained by the second platform;
• and
• receiving the additional credit obtained from a transaction debiting the other account and adding the additional credit to the pre-authorized account maintained by another platform different than the second platform to supply funds used to pay for at least one communication service or transaction, provided or consummated respectively via at least one of a plurality of networks of different types which are connected to the first and second platforms.