Enabling portability of credentials across dual mode devices

A server comprising:

• a network communication device configured to exchange data communications through a first type of network, the first type of network including at least one database accessible to the network communication device;
• a processor coupled to the network communication device;
• a storage device accessible to the processor;
• and
• an application program in the storage device, the application program including a plurality of functions, wherein execution of the application program by the processor configures the application server to exchange data communications related to the plurality of functions with a mobile device through the first type of network,
• wherein the processor is configured to perform functions, including functions to:
• receive subscriber data for a mobile device requesting access to the first type of network, the subscriber data including a device identifier for the mobile device and a first module identifier for a first removable module coupled to the mobile device, the mobile device having credentials for the first type of network stored in an internal memory of the mobile device, and the first removable module having credentials for a second type of network stored in a memory of the first removable module;
• store in the database an association between the device identifier of the mobile device and the first module identifier with previously stored information for a subscriber account associated with the mobile device;
• and
• authorize the mobile device to access the first type of network based on the stored association between the device identifier of the mobile device and the first module identifier, wherein the mobile device is granted authorization to access the first type of network only when subscriber data, received from the mobile device for subsequent access requests, includes module identifier information matching the first module identifier stored in association with the device identifier of the mobile device.

An article of manufacture, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer program for enabling a mobile device to access a first type of network, the computer program being embodied on the computer-readable storage medium and including instructions that, when executed, cause the mobile device to implement functions, including functions to:

• upon receiving an initial indication of a first removable module being coupled to the mobile device, acquire a first module identifier from a memory of the first removable module coupled to the mobile device, the mobile device having credentials for the first type of network stored along with a device identifier of the mobile device in an internal memory of the mobile device, and the first removable module having authentication information associated with credentials for a second type of network stored with the first module identifier in the memory of the first removable module;
• determine whether or not the acquired first module identifier matches module identifier information previously stored in association with the device identifier in the internal memory of the mobile device;
• and
• enable the mobile device to access the first type of network only when the first module identifier of the first removable module is determined to match the module identifier information previously stored in the internal memory of the mobile device.