System and method for automatic mobile device activation

A telecommunications system, comprising:

• a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

A telecommunications system, comprising:

• a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.

A method, comprising:

• providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

A method, comprising:

• providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.

A telecommunications switch in a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a controller;
• a database operably coupled to said controller, said database storing preactivation information;
• and
• a password collection unit operably coupled to said controller adapted to receive a password of a detected cellular telephone;
• wherein said preactivation information is propagated to said telecommunications switch from a point of sale of said cellular telephone and, responsive to a verification of said password, an activation of said cellular telephone by said controller at said telecommunications switch occurs, said database is updated with activation information and said activation information is forwarded to a central control center and other telecommunication switches in the network.

A telecommunications method, comprising:

• associating a password with a cellular telephone;
• providing said password and preactivation information from a distribution center or point of sale to a central control center;
• propagating said password and preactivation information from said central control center to one or more local switches;
• detecting a power on of said cellular telephone at one of said local switches;
• verifying said password at said one of said local switches;
• activating said cellular telephone at said local switch responsive to said verifying;
• and
• providing activation information responsive to said activating from said local switch to said central control center and other local switches.

A telecommunications system, comprising:

• a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution center;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

A telecommunications system, comprising:

• a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution center;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.

A method comprising:

• providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution point;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

A method, comprising:

• providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information;
• and
• providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;
• wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution point;
• wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;
• wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.