Carrier network determination for providing real-time customer feedback of call information

A communication device configured for receiving real-time feedback of call information, comprising:

• memory for storing data;
• a processor, coupled to the memory, for providing communication operation functions;
• and
• a display, operative coupled to the processor, the display provided for presenting information to a user for enabling execution of the communication operation functions;
• wherein the processor provides an indication of initiation of a call to a phone switch, receives look-up rating information from a look-up rating system remotely located from the phone switch, and determines whether a cost of the initiated call has been previously calculated and cached,
• determines whether the cost of the initiated call has changed since the cost was cached, determines the cost of the initiated call based on associated call information when the look-up rating information has changed and caches the cost, retrieves the cost from cache when the look-up rating information has not changed,
• determines the cost of the initiated call based on the associated call information and caches the cost when the cost has not been previously cached,
• the processor presenting the cost and the associated call information on the display, the cost and the associated call information being based on information associated with carriers involved with the initiated call, information associated with a service plan associated with the communication device and parameters associated with the service plan subscribed to by the communication device.

A computer-readable storage device including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, provides real-time feedback of call information, by:

• receiving an indication of initiation of a call at a first communication device;
• routing information associated with the initiated call to a look-up rating system having access to databases for obtaining look-up rating information;
• requesting the look-up rating information relating to the initiated call, the look-up rating information including one or more of a type of network, an amount of minutes available, carriers involved with the call, and a service plan for the first communication device;
• passing the look-up rating information to the first communication device;
• determining whether a cost of the initiated call previously was calculated and cached;
• if the cost of the initiated call previously was not calculated and cached, determining, by the first communication device, the cost of the initiated call based on the look-up rating information and caching the cost of the initiated call;
• if the cost of the initiated call previously was calculated and cached, determining, by the first communication device, whether the look-up rating information has changed since the cost previously was calculated and cached, and, if so, updating the cost of the initiated call based on the look-up rating information and caching the cost of the initiated call;
• and
• presenting the cost and associated call information at the first communication device.