Apparatus and methods for distributing credentials of mobile network operators

A first end user device, comprising:

• a first universal integrated circuit card that stores default credential information of a default mobile network operator;
• a processing system including a processor and being coupled with the first universal integrated circuit card;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
• providing, to equipment of the default mobile network operator, a request to select a service provided by a plurality of mobile network operators and a selection from a plurality of selectable options, wherein the providing of the request to select is based on the default credential information, and wherein the selection identifies a second mobile network operator from among the plurality of mobile network operators;
• receiving, from the equipment of the default mobile network operator, second credential information of the second mobile network operator, wherein the equipment of the default mobile network operator obtains the second credential information from a database that stores credentials of the plurality of mobile network operators, and wherein the database is accessible by the plurality of mobile network operators enabling equipment of each of the plurality of mobile network operators to distribute credentials of the plurality of mobile network operators to universal integrated circuit cards of portable end user devices;
• storing the second credential information in the first universal integrated circuit card;
• and
• requesting, from equipment of the second mobile network operator, activation of subscription services including the service provided by the second mobile network operator based on the second credential information.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by equipment of a default mobile network operator, a request initiated by a first end user device for selecting a service and a selection from a plurality of selectable options, wherein the first end user device includes a first universal integrated circuit card, wherein the receiving of the request is based on default credential information stored in the first universal integrated circuit card of the first end user device, and wherein the selection identifies a second mobile network operator from among a plurality of mobile network operators;
• obtaining, by the equipment of the default mobile network operator, second credential information of the second mobile network operator;
• providing, by the equipment of the default mobile network operator to the first end user device, the second credential information of the second mobile network operator to enable the first end user device to store the second credential information in the first universal integrated circuit card and to activate subscription services including the service provided by the second mobile network operator;
• and
• providing instructions, by the equipment of the default mobile network operator to a network element of the default mobile network operator, to prevent network access based on the default credential information by the first end user device.