Data messaging in a communications network

A system for communicating location or status information of a mobile item to be monitored using a cellular telephone network, the system comprising:

• a sensor located on the mobile item and operable to generate location or status information on the mobile item;
• a cellular transceiver coupled to the sensor and operable to transmit, using the cellular telephone network, an altered identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the location or status information generated by the sensor;
• and
• a platform coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to receive the altered identifier, the platform further operable to recognize the altered identifier to obtain the location or status information generated by the sensor.

A method for communicating location or status information of a monitored mobile item using a cellular telephone network, the method comprising:

• obtaining location or status information of the monitored mobile item upon the occurrence of a reporting event;
• altering an identifier of a cellular transceiver to reflect location or status information obtained during the reporting event;
• transmitting the altered identifier through the cellular telephone network using the cellular transceiver;
• and
• receiving the altered identifier at a remote location, the remote location recognizing the altered identifier to obtain the location or status information of the monitored mobile item.