Method for converting an existing subscriber to a wireless communications system

Abstract

A subscriber conversion system determines at least one code for an existing subscriber of a first wireless communications system to be converted to a second wireless communications system. When the existing subscriber obtains a wireless unit to be used in the second wireless communications system, the conversion system uses the at least one code provided to the existing subscriber to link existing subscriber information from the first wireless communications system to information associated with wireless unit for the second communications system, thereby improving the efficiency of the conversion process. For example, if a service provider wishes to convert from GSM to CDMA, the service provider can provide a secret code and an identification number, such as a directory number (DN), as the codes to the existing GSM subscriber. The subscriber obtains a CDMA wireless unit and commences an activation process to activate the CDMA wireless unit. As part of the activation process, the subscriber provides the secret code and the identification number to the conversion system. The conversion system determines if the secret code and the identification number correspond to the secret code and identification number provided to an existing GSM subscriber. If so, information which is characteristic of the CDMA wireless unit, such as the ESN, DN and/or IMSI, is associated with at least a portion of existing GSM subscriber information, such as billing information and/or features or services. As such, the conversion system uses existing subscriber information to reduce the time required to convert the existing subscriber to the wireless communications system based on the second radio standard.