Method and system for collecting wireless information transparently and non-intrusively

A wireless device comprising:

• a processor coupled to a bus for processing information comprising cellular network configuration information, the processor for communicating on a cellular communication network and for processing instructions operable to render applications;
• a transceiver coupled to the bus;
• a memory coupled to the bus;
• and a data collecting component coupled to the bus, wherein the data collecting component is operable to monitor the wireless device, and wherein the data collecting component is further operable to collect information on the wireless device, and wherein the data collecting component executes in a kernel layer of the wireless device to collect information about the usage of the wireless device via the data collecting component, the information including when the wireless device operated for commerce activity, when advertising occurred on the wireless device, and a duration for which the wireless device operated as a mobile television.

A method for producing a wireless handheld device, comprising:

• during a manufacturing stage of the wireless handheld device, installing a firmware component on the wireless handheld device;
• installing an operating system on the wireless handheld device, the firmware component including a data collector component that executes outside a context of the operating system;
• performing a testing process to ensure the functionality of the wireless handheld device;
• installing at least one application on the wireless handheld device for execution in the context of the operating system, wherein the data collector component is configured to collect usage information regarding the at least one application and provide the usage information to a network provider;
• and
• distributing the wireless handheld device for use.