Disposable mini-applications

An apparatus for managing storage of an executable software item of limited operability in a mobile terminal that provides a user of the mobile terminal with shopping assistance, comprising:

• a memory device for storing a program;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to:
• download an executable software item for providing a user of a mobile terminal with assistance while shopping, wherein the executable software item includes data comprising an identification of one or more shopping service locations and trigger conditions for activation and deletion of the executable software item from memory of the mobile terminal;
• detect, via a short range wireless connection, that the user is located within proximity of one of the shopping service locations;
• access user data comprising indications of goods and/or services of interest to the user;
• compare goods and/or services offered by the shopping service location with the user data to determine whether there is a match;
• and
• if there is a match, activate the executable software item;
• wherein upon activation of the executable software item, the processor is further operative with the program to:
• generate a query for transmission to the shopping service location, the query including the user data;
• and
• transmit the query to the shopping service location via a short range wireless connection.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor to manage storage of an executable software item of limited operability that provides a user of a mobile terminal with shopping assistance, comprising:

• program code for enabling the processor to download an executable software item for providing a user of a mobile terminal with assistance while shopping, wherein the executable software item comprises data comprising an identification of one or more shopping service locations and trigger conditions for activation and deletion of the executable software item from memory of the mobile terminal;
• program code for enabling the processor to detect, via a short range wireless connection, that the user is located within proximity of a shopping service location;
• program code for enabling the processor to access user data comprising indications of goods and/or services of interest to the user;
• program code for enabling the processor to compare goods and/or services offered by the shopping service location with the user data to determine whether there is a match;
• program code for enabling the processor to, if there is a match, activate the executable software item;
• and
• program code for enabling the processor to execute the executable software item;
• wherein execution of the executable software item comprises:
• generating a query for transmission to the shopping service location, the query including the user data;
• and
• transmitting the query to the shopping service location via a short range wireless connection.