Mobile terminal having network services activation through the use of point-to-point short message service

A mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a wireless interface, comprising:

• means for receiving at least one message from the network, the message being addressed to the mobile terminal;
• and
• control means for determining if the at least one message is a special message from a network operator that specifies one of enabling or disabling a mobile terminal network service feature that is already present in the mobile station, the special message comprising a predetermined Identification Code for specifying the network service feature that is to be enabled or disabled, and if the at least one message is determined to be a special message, for storing data within a memory of the mobile terminal, the stored data selectively one of enabling and disabling the mobile terminal network service feature that is specified by the special message;
• wherein the special message is a Short Message Service message having one field for identifying the SMS message as a special message.

A method for operating a mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a digital cellular interface, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one Short Message Service message from the network, the SMS message being addressed to the mobile terminal;
• determining if the at least one SMS message is a special SMS message from a network operator that specifies one of enabling or disabling a mobile terminal network service feature that is already present in the mobile station, wherein the special SMS message has at least one field for identifying the SMS message as a special SMS message;
• and
• if the at least one SMS message is determined to be a special SMS message, storing data within a memory of the mobile terminal, the stored data selectively one of enabling or disabling a mobile terminal network service feature that is also specified by the special SmS message, wherein the special SMS message has a User Data field having information for identifying a predetermined Feature Code and a predetermined Identification Code that are both associated with the network service feature, and wherein the mobile terminal stores the predetermined Feature Code into the memory, and displays the predetermined Identification Code to a user.

A method for operating a mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a digital cellular interface, comprising the steps of:

• sending a short message service (SMS) message from the network to the mobile terminal, the SMS message having at least one field for identifying the SMS message as a special message for offering a network service feature to the mobile station, the offered network service feature being already present in 'the mobile station but disabled for use;
• sending a reply to the SMS message from the mobile terminal to the network, the reply containing data for indicating one of an acceptance of the offered network service feature or a non-acceptance of the offered network service feature;
• and
• receiving the reply at the network and selectively one of activating the offered network service feature for use by the mobile terminal or not activating the offered network service feature for use by the mobile terminal, in accordance with the data sent with the reply, wherein if the offered network service feature is activated for use the network sends a message to the mobile station, the message containing information for specifying a disabled network service feature that is to be enabled by the mobile station.

A method for operating a mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a digital cellular interface, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one point-to-point message from the network that is addressed to the mobile terminal;
• determining if the at least one message is a special message from a network operator that specifies that an already enabled mobile terminal network service feature be disabled, wherein the special message has at least one field for identifying the message as a special message;
• if the at least one message is determined to be a special message, storing data within a memory of the mobile terminal, the stored data disabling a mobile terminal network service feature that is also specified by the special message;
• and
• subsequently terminating the displaying of an identification of the disabled network service feature as one of an enabled network service feature to an operator of the mobile station;
• wherein the disabled network service feature remains stored in the mobile station such that it can be subsequently enabled for operation in response to a another special message from the network operator.

A method for operating a mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a digital cellular interface, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one point-to-point message from the network that is addressed to the mobile terminal;
• determining if the at least one message is a special message from a network operator that specifies that a pre-stored and disabled network service feature is to be enabled for operation, wherein the special message has at least one field for identifying the message as a special message;
• if the at least one message is determined to be a special message, storing data within a memory of the mobile terminal, the stored data enabling the operation of a mobile terminal network service feature that is also specified by the special message;
• and
• subsequently beginning the display of the network service feature as one of an enabled network service feature to an operator of the mobile station.

A radiotelephone comprising an RF transceiver for bidirectionally coupling the radiotelephone to a communications network;

• said radiotelephone further comprising:
• a memory for storing information, some of the stored information being information that is stored during an activation of said radiotelephone for authorizing said radiotelephone to make and receive calls, said memory further storing a plurality of software modules individual ones of which execute, when enabled for use, one of a plurality of predetermined communications network service features;
• and
• a controller coupled to said transceiver and to said memory, said controller being responsive to a receipt of a message from said communications network through said transceiver for storing additional information in said memory for enabling a disabled one of said plurality of software modules that is specified by data conveyed by said message, the message comprising a predetermined Identification Code for specifying the disabled one of said software modules that is to be enabled;
• wherein said message is a point-to-point Short Message Service (SMS) message having at least one field for identifying the SMS message as a communications network service feature update SMS message.

A method for operating a mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a wireless interface, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one message from the network, the message being addressed to the mobile terminal;
• determining if the at least one message is a special message from a network operator that specifies one of enabling or disabling a mobile terminal network service feature that is already present in the mobile station;
• and
• if the at least one message is determined to be a special message, storing data within a memory of the mobile terminal, the stored data selectively one of enabling or disabling the mobile terminal network service feature that is also specified by the special message;
• wherein the special message is a Short Message Service message having at least one field for identifying the SMS message as a special message.

A mobile terminal of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through a wireless interface, comprising:

• means for receiving at least one message from the network, the message being addressed to the mobile terminal;
• and
• control means for determining if the at least one message is a special message from a network operator that specifies one of enabling or disabling a mobile terminal network service feature that is already present in the mobile station, and if the at least one message is determined to be a special message, for storing data within a memory of the mobile terminal, the stored data selectively one of enabling and disabling the mobile terminal network service feature that is also specified by the special message;
• wherein the special message is a Short Message Service message having one field for identifying the SMS message as a special message.

A radiotelephone comprising an RF transceiver for bidirectionally coupling the radiotelephone to a communications network;

• said radiotelephone further comprising:
• a memory for storing information, some of the stored information being information that is stored during an activation of said radiotelephone for authorizing said radiotelephone to make and receive calls, said memory further storing a plurality of software modules individual ones of which execute, when enabled for use, one of a plurality of predetermined communications network service features;
• and
• a controller coupled to said transceiver and to said memory, said controller being responsive to a receipt of a message from said communications network through said transceiver for storing additional information in said memory for enabling a disabled one of said plurality of software modules that is specified by data conveyed by said message;
• wherein said message is a point-to-point Short Message Service (SMS) message having at least one field for identifying the SMS message as a communications network service feature update SMS message.