Method and apparatus for managing subscription credentials in a wireless communication device

A wireless communication device comprising one or more processing circuits configured to:

• detect a failure to gain network access using current subscription credentials held in the wireless communication device;
• revert from the current subscription credentials to temporary default limited-access credentials held in the wireless communication device responsive to detecting said failure;
• determine whether new subscription credentials are needed based on gaining temporary network access via the temporary default limited-access credentials;
• and
• if new subscription credentials are needed, obtain new subscription credentials for the wireless communication device via the temporary network access.

A method of facilitating automatic acquisition of new subscription credentials by a wireless communication device, the method comprising, at a registration service:

• receiving first information from a wireless communication device that has reverted from using initial subscription credentials to temporary default limited-access credentials responsive to a failure to gain network access using the initial subscription credentials, and has used the limited-access credentials to gain temporary network access, said first information being included in or derived from the initial subscription credentials held by the wireless communication device;
• comparing the first information to second information held by the registration service, said second information being included in or derived from current subscription credentials associated with a current home network operator of the wireless communication device;
• and
• indicating to the wireless communication device that new subscription credentials are needed by the wireless communication device, based on detecting a mismatch between the first and second information.

A registration server configured to facilitate automatic acquisition of new subscription credentials by a wireless communication device, the registration server comprising one or more processing circuits configured to:

• receive first information from a wireless communication device that has reverted from using initial subscription credentials to temporary default limited-access credentials responsive to a failure to gain network access using the initial subscription credentials, and has used the limited-access credentials to gain temporary network access, said first information being included in or derived from the initial subscription credentials held by the wireless communication device;
• compare the first information to second information held by the registration server, said second information being included in or derived from current subscription credentials associated with a current home network operator of the wireless communication device;
• and
• indicate to the wireless communication device that new subscription credentials are needed by the wireless communication device, based on detecting a mismatch between the first and second information.