Cash card system interface module

A method for operating a wireless device having a wireless communications interface, a user interface, a System Interface Module (SIM) card, and processing circuitry, the method comprising:

• establishing communications with a plurality of wireless networks;
• transmitting SIM card information to the wireless networks;
• receiving SIM card authentication challenge from at least two of the wireless networks, in which the wireless networks receive a SIM card authentication challenge information from a SIM card server that supports the SIM card, when the wireless networks query the SIM card server in response to the SIM card information transmitted to the wireless networks;
• responding to the SIM card authentication challenge;
• selecting a servicing wireless network from the at least two wireless networks based upon the correspondingly received wireless service terms;
• and
• receiving wireless service from the selected wireless network.

A method of operating a System Interface Module (SIM) card server to support wireless network service for a wireless device, the method comprising:

• receiving a SIM card authentication challenge request that identifies the SIM card from a wireless network that communicates with the wireless device;
• determining whether a service support agreement exists between an operator of the SIM card server and the wireless network;
• transmitting SIM card authentication data regarding the SIM card to the wireless network, when a service support agreement exists between the operator of the SIM card server and the wireless network, for the wireless network to challenge the SIM card;
• receiving usage data regarding the SIM card from the wireless network;
• and
• accounting for the usage data regarding the SIM card.

A System Interface Module (SIM) card server comprising:

• a communications interface;
• memory;
• and
• processing circuitry coupled to the memory and the communications interface to operate with a plurality of wireless networks of differing wireless service providers, the processing circuitry to:
• receive a SIM card authentication challenge request from a particular wireless network that identifies a SIM card;
• determine whether a service support agreement exists between an operator of the SIM card server and the particular wireless network;
• and
• transmit SIM card authentication data regarding the SIM card to the particular wireless network, when a service support agreement exists between the operator of the SIM card server and the particular wireless network, for the particular wireless network to challenge the SIM card;
• receive usage data regarding the SIM card from the particular wireless network;
• and
• account for the usage data regarding the SIM card.

A method of operating a wireless network to provide wireless service to a wireless device comprising:

• receiving a service request from the wireless device;
• receiving System Interface Module (SIM) card information from the wireless device, the SIM card information including an identity of a SIM card server;
• transmitting a SIM card authentication information request to the SIM card server;
• receiving SIM card authentication challenge information from the cash card SIM server, when a service support agreement exists between an operator of the SIM card server and the wireless network;
• transmitting a SIM card challenge to the wireless device;
• receiving a SIM card challenge response from the wireless device;
• providing wireless service to the wireless device, when the SIM card challenge response is authentic;
• creating usage data pertaining to service provided to the wireless device;
• and
• transmitting the usage data to the SIM card server.