Swisscom Morris Ag

Ronald De Bruin

Rudolf Ritter

Paul Aebi

Andreas Martschitsch

A method for loading or reloading a SIM card ( ) for a mobile device ( ). The SIM card ( ) has an electronic chip with a storage device ( ). In the storage device ( ) a monetary sum ( ) is stored, and decreases as the mobile telephone is used. For loading or reloading the monetary sum, a prepayable value card ( ) is purchased. The value card ( ) has a code field ( ) covered by a removable opaque layer ( ). Upon removal of the layer ( ), a code ( ) becomes visible. The holder of the SIM card and the value card calls a service number using a communication apparatus ( ). The caller is thereby connected to a data base ( ) in which all codes assigned to value cards ( ) and the sum of money associated with each code are stored. The caller is prompted to enter the code ( ) on the calling communication apparatus. The code ( ) entered is compared with the codes stored in the data base ( ). If the entered code ( ) is found in the data base, a short message containing the value of the monetary sum ( ) to be loaded or reloaded is prepared and temporarily stored in a short message service center ( ). The monetary sum ( ) and the code ( ) are marked in the data base ( ) as used or cancelled. The next time the SIM card ( ) is inserted in any mobile telephone ( ) and a connection is established with the communication network ( ), the SIM card ( ) to be loaded or reloaded is loaded or reloaded with the temporarily stored monetary amount ( ) via of the prepared short message ( ).

Growing community of inventors

Bremgarten, Switzerland

Ronald De Bruin