PLAN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of US Provisional Patent Application having serial number 61/745,534, which was filed on December, 21, 2012, and is entitled "System and method for comparing and selecting mobile plan", the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of methods and systems for selecting a telecommunication plan, and more particularly a communication plan for a mobile device.

BACKGROUND

In view of the extensive offer for mobile data plans, it may be difficult for a user to find an adequate plan. For example, some users may choose a mobile plan which includes a number of call minutes greater than their real consumption. In this case, those users do not use all of their call minutes offered in their mobile plan, and therefore overpay their mobile plan since they could find another mobile plan that would offer less call minutes and would be less expensive. In another example, some users may choose a mobile plan offering a too limited number of call minutes with respect to their real consumption. In this case, those users pay additional fees for the extra minutes that they consumed.

Some websites offer an in-line comparator of mobile plans that determine the cost- effective plans for a given user. The user is requested to input his mobile device consumption, e.g. the number of consumed call minutes, the number of Short Messages Service (SMS) messages received and sent, the consumed Internet data. The user may further requested to identify local calls, long distance calls, international calls, etc. While being helpful for the user to select an adequate plan, such methods requires that the user inputs information, which is time-consuming.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and system for selecting an adequate mobile plan. SUMMARY

According to a first broad aspect, there is provided a method for selecting a mobile plan for a mobile device, comprising: determining a past usage history over a given past period of time for the mobile device using information locally stored on the mobile device comprising at least one of phone call information, text messages information, and data information; for each one of a set of predetermined mobile plans, calculating a cost corresponding to the past usage history for the given past period of time; comparing together the calculated costs for the predetermined mobile plans and identifying a cost- effective mobile plan; and outputting an identification of the cost-effective mobile plan. In one embodiment, the step of determining comprises determining a number of incoming and outgoing calls, and for each one of the incoming and outgoing calls, a call duration and a call type.

In one embodiment, the call type comprises one of a local call, a long-distance call, and an international call. In one embodiment, the step of determining a call type is performed using a first location associated with the mobile device and a second location associated with a given phone number from which the incoming call is received or to which the outgoing call is made.

In one embodiment, the step of said determining a call type comprises: calculating a distance between the first and second locations; and comparing the calculated distance to a distance threshold to determine the call type.

In one embodiment, the first location is determined from one of: a Ground Positioning System (GPS) position of the mobile device; an first area code of a phone number associated with the mobile device; and the first area code and a first Nxx number of a phone number associated with the mobile device, and the second position is determined from one of: a second area code of the given phone number; and the second area code and a second Nxx number of the given phone number.

In one embodiment, the step of determining the past usage history comprises determining a number of incoming and outgoing text messages and their respective message type. In one embodiment, the step of determining the past usage history comprises determining an amount of Internet data used during the given past period of time.

In one embodiment, the step of identifying the cost-effective mobile plan comprises discarding carriers offering an unsatisfactory antenna strength for a given use location related to the mobile device.

In one embodiment, the step of outputting an identification of the cost-effective mobile plan comprises outputting at least one of a monthly cost a description of services comprised in the cost-effective mobile plan, and an identification of a carrier offering the cost-effective mobile plan. According to a second road aspect, there is provided a system for selecting a mobile plan for a mobile device, comprising: a usage determining unit for determining a past usage history for a given past period of time for the mobile device using information locally stored on the mobile device comprising at least one of phone call information, text messages information, and data information; and a plan selecting unit for: for each one of a set of predetermined mobile plans, calculating a cost using the past usage history for the given past period of time; comparing together the calculated costs for the predetermined mobile plans and identifying a cost-effective mobile plan; and outputting an identification of the cost-effective mobile plan.

In one embodiment, the usage determining unit is adapted to determine a number of incoming and outgoing calls, and for each one of the incoming and outgoing calls, a call duration and a call type.

In one embodiment, the call type comprises one of a local call, a long-distance call, and an international call.

In one embodiment, the usage determining unit is adapted to determine a call type is performed using a first location associated with the mobile device and a second location associated with a given phone number from which the incoming call is received or to which the outgoing call is made. In one embodiment, the usage determining unit is adapted to: calculate a distance between the first and second locations; and compare the calculated distance to a distance threshold to determine the call type.

In one embodiment, the usage determining unit is adapted to determine the first location from one of: a Ground Positioning System (GPS) position of the mobile device; an first area code of a phone number associated with the mobile device; and the first area code and a first Nxx number of a phone number associated with the mobile device; and the second position from one of: a second area code of the given phone number; and the second area code and a second Nxx number of the given phone number. In one embodiment, the usage determining unit is adapted to determine a number of incoming and outgoing text messages and their respective message type.

In one embodiment, the usage determining unit is adapted to determine an amount of Internet data used during the given past period of time.

In one embodiment, the plan selecting unit is adapted to discard carriers offering an unsatisfactory antenna strength for a given use location related to the mobile device.

In one embodiment, the plan selecting unit is adapted to output at least one of a monthly cost a description of services comprised in the cost-effective mobile plan, and an identification of a carrier offering the cost-effective mobile plan.

A "mobile plan" or "mobile rate plan" comprises a predefined call duration, a predefined number of text messages such as SMS messages or Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) messages, and/or a predefined amount of Internet data, that may be used or consumed by a user during a predefined period of time. The Internet data regroups all data consumed by the user while using the Internet, sending/receiving emails, using a Ground Positioning System (GPS) application, downloading videos, using mobile applications requiring a communication with a server, etc. The predefined call durations may be expressed as a number of hours, a number of minutes, a number of seconds, or the like. The predefined call duration may be applicable for local calls, long-distance calls, and/or international calls. The predefined number of SMS may be applicable for SMS messages to be sent by the user and/or SMS messages to be received by the user. It should be understood that a mobile plan may offer unlimited options. For example, a mobile plan may include unlimited incoming local and/or long-distance calls, unlimited outgoing local and/or long-distance calls, an unlimited number of SMS messages, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a mobile plan, in accordance with an embodiment; and

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a system for selecting a mobile plan, in accordance with an embodiment.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a computer implemented method 10 for selecting an adequate mobile plan for a user. The user is provided with a mobile device such as a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like. At step 12, the past usage history over a given period of time is determined using information locally stored on the mobile device. The usage history indicates the mobile consumption made by the user during the given period of time. The past usage history comprises phone call information, text messages information, email information, and/or Internet data information, that have been used by the user of the mobile device during the given past period of time. For example, the past usage history may comprise the number of SMS messages sent from the mobile device during a given period of time, the number of local, long-distance, and/or international calls made and received by the mobile device, the amount of data downloaded or received by mobile device, etc.

At step 14, the usage cost corresponding to the determined past usage history is calculated for each one of a set of predefined mobile plans. For each predefined mobile plan, the usage cost is calculated as if the user would have subscribed to the predefined mobile plan during the given past period of time for which the past usage history has been calculated. At step 16, the calculated usage costs are compared together in order to determine the most cost-effective mobile plan. The predefined mobile plans are ranked according to their cost for the determined usage history. At step 18, an identification of at least the most cost-effective is outputted. For example, the most cost-effective mobile plan may be displayed to the user of the mobile device. In another example, a predetermined number of mobile plans may be provided to the user. For example, the first three most cost-effective mobile plans may be outputted and displayed to the user so that he may choose between the three mobile plans. For each cost-effective mobile plan, the identification of the cost-effective mobile plans may comprise a description of the services included in the mobile plan, the monthly cost of the mobile, the name of the carrier offering the mobile plan, etc.

In one embodiment, the step 12 of determining the past usage history comprises scanning the mobile device to identify relevant information required for generating the past usage history. For example, the applications stored on the mobile device may be determined, the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card may be accessed, the local memory or data storing unit of the mobile device may be accessed, the GPS unit may be accessed, etc. By scanning the mobile device, the services used by the user on his mobile device are determined. For example, it may be determined that the user makes and receives phone calls, sends and/or receives SMS messages, sends and/or receives emails, uses Internet, uploads and/or downloads images or pictures via a specific application, and/or the like. The past usage history then comprises an identification of the services that the user uses, and the respective consumption for each service for the given period of time.

Concerning the call information, the number of incoming calls and the number of outgoing calls, for a predefined past period of time, are determined as well as the duration and an estimate type of call, for each incoming and outgoing call.

For each incoming call, the following information is determined: the phone number from which the call is received, the duration of the call, and the location associated with the mobile device. In one embodiment, the location of the mobile device is determined using the GPS position at which the mobile device was when the incoming call has been received. The GPS location is retrieved from the memory of the mobile device. In another embodiment, an approximate location is determined using the area code of the phone number associated with the mobile device. In a further embodiment, the approximate location is determined using the area code and the Nxx number (or central office code) of the phone number associated with the mobile device.

In one embodiment, the type of incoming call, i.e. a local incoming call, a long-distance incoming call, or an international call, is determined using only the phone number from which the incoming call is received, i.e. the origin of the incoming call. Using the area code or the area code and the Nxx number of the phone number from which the call is received, i.e. the area code or the area code and the Nxx number of the origin of the call, an approximate location of the origin of the call is determined. By comparing the approximate location of the origin of the call to the previously determined location of the mobile device, it is possible to determine the type of the call. If the location of the mobile device and that of the origin of the incoming call are both located within a predefined geographical area, then the incoming call is classified as a local call. If the location of the mobile device and that of the origin of the incoming call are located in a same country but outside of the predefined geographical area, the incoming call is classified as a long distance call. If the location of the mobile device and that of the origin of the incoming call are located in different countries, then the incoming call is considered as an international call.

In one embodiment, the distance between the location of the origin of the incoming call and the location associated with the mobile device may be determined and compared to a distance threshold. If the determined distance is less than the distance threshold, then the incoming call is considered as a local call. If the determined distance is equal to or greater than the distance threshold, then the incoming call is classified as a long distance. For example, if the determined distance is less than 100 km, then the incoming call is classified as a local call. If the determined distance is equal to or greater than 100 km, then the incoming call is a long distance call.

In one embodiment, the GPS location of the mobile device when the phone calls were received is determined from the information stored on the memory of the mobile device. If the GPS location indicates that the mobile device was located in a foreign country when a call has been received, then the incoming call is classified as an international call. Alternatively, the incoming call may be classified as local call. In one embodiment, all the received calls are classified as local calls. In this case, the above-described step of classifying the incoming calls per type is omitted.

Once the incoming calls have been ranked as a function of their type, the total call duration for local incoming calls, long-distance incoming calls, and or international incoming calls is determined. The total call duration of incoming local calls over the given past period of time is obtained by adding together the duration of all of the incoming calls classified as local calls. The total call duration of incoming long-distance calls over the given past period of time is obtained by adding together the duration of all of the incoming calls classified as long-distance calls. The total call duration of incoming international calls over the given past period of time is obtained by adding together the duration of all of the incoming calls classified as international calls.

For each outgoing call, the following information is determined: the phone number that has been called, the duration of the call, and the location associated with the mobile device. In one embodiment, the location of the mobile device is determined using the GPS position at which the mobile device was when the outgoing call has been made. The GPS location is retrieved from the memory of the mobile device. In another embodiment, an approximate location is determined using the area code of the phone number associated with the mobile device. In a further embodiment, the approximate location is determined using the area code and the Nxx number (or central office code) of the phone number associated with the mobile device.

In one embodiment, the type of outgoing call, i.e. a local outgoing call, a long-distance outgoing call, or an international call, is determined using only the phone number to which the outgoing call is made, i.e. the destination of the outgoing call. Using the area code or the area code and the Nxx number of the phone number to which the outgoing call is made, i.e. the area code or the area code and the Nxx number of the destination of the call, an approximate location of the destination of the call is determined. By comparing the approximate location of the destination of the call to the previously determined location of the mobile device, it is possible to determine the type of the call. If the location of the mobile device and that of the destination of the outgoing call are both located within a predefined geographical area, then the outgoing call is classified as a local call. If the location of the mobile device and that of the destination of the outgoing call are located in a same country but outside of the predefined geographical area, the outgoing call is classified as a long distance call. If the location of the mobile device and that of the destination of the outgoing call are located in different countries, then the outgoing call is considered as an international call.

In one embodiment, the distance between the location of the destination of the outgoing call and the location associated with the mobile device may be determined and compared to a distance threshold. If the determined distance is less than the distance threshold, then the outgoing call is considered as a local call. If the determined distance is equal to or greater than the distance threshold, then the outgoing call is classified as a long distance. For example, if the determined distance is less than 100 km, then the outgoing call is classified as a local call. If the determined distance is equal to or greater than 100 km, then the outgoing call is a long distance call.

In one embodiment, the GPS location of the mobile device when the outgoing phone calls were made is determined from the information stored on the memory of the mobile device. If the GPS location indicates that the mobile device was located in a foreign country when a call has been made, then the outgoing call is classified as an international roaming call.

Once the outgoing calls have been ranked as a function of their type, the total call duration for local outgoing calls, long-distance outgoing calls, and/or international outgoing calls is determined. The total call duration of outgoing local calls over the given past period of time is obtained by adding together the duration of all of the outgoing calls classified as local calls. The total call duration of outgoing long-distance calls over the given past period of time is obtained by adding together the duration of all of the outgoing calls classified as long-distance calls. The total call duration of outgoing international calls over the given past period of time is obtained by adding together the duration of all of the outgoing calls classified as international calls.

In one embodiment, the phone numbers that have been called are compared to a list of predefined free phone numbers such as the phone number of the customer service of a carrier, the phone number of an emergency service, or the like, and if a given phone number that has been called corresponds to a free phone number, then the call made to the given phone number is classified as a free phone number. In one embodiment, the date and start time of a call is determined in addition to the duration of the call. This information is also part of the past usage history.

In one embodiment, information about text messages such as SMS messages or MMs messages is collected at step 12. For example, the number of text messages sent from the mobile device during the given past period of time and the number of SMS messages received by the mobile device during the past period of time are determined. For each incoming text message, the following information is determined: the phone number from which the text message is received and the location of the mobile device. For each outgoing text message, the following information is determined: the phone number to which the text message is sent and the location of the mobile device.

For each incoming or outgoing text message, the type of the text message using the method described above with respect to outgoing and incoming calls. In one embodiment, three types of text messages exist, i.e. local text messages, long-distance text messages, and international text messages. In another embodiment, only two types of text messages exist, i.e. local text messages and international text messages. In this case, long-distance text messages are classified as local text messages.

In one embodiment, all received text messages are considered as local text messages.

In one embodiment, the number of emails sent and received by the mobile device during the given past period of time is determined. In one embodiment, the total amount of data corresponding to the sent and received emails is determined by retrieving adding together the size of each email sent or received by the mobile device. In another embodiment, the size of the emails is estimated using an average size for sent emails and an average size for the received emails. The size of the sent emails is estimated by multiplying the number of sent emails by an average size for the sent emails, and the size for the received emails is obtained by multiplying the number of received emails by an average size for the received emails. The total size of the emails then corresponds to the addition of the estimated size of the sent emails and the estimated size of the received emails. It should be understood that a single average size may be used for both the sent and received emails. In this case, the total size of the emails is estimated by multiplying the total number of emails by the single average size per email. In one embodiment, the usage history comprises data such as data sent and received via the Internet. The Internet data comprise data sent and received via a web browser and any mobile applications such as a GPS application, Facebook™, Youtube™, and/or the like. The amount of data used by the user during the given past period of time is retrieved from the memory of the mobile device.

Once the usage history for the given past period of time has been determined at step 12, the most cost-effective mobile plan among a set of predefined mobile plans is determined. For each predefined mobile plan, the cost corresponding to the determined past usage history is calculated. The determined costs are then compared together in order to determine the most cost-effective mobile plan according to the past usage history for the user.

Usually, a mobile plan includes a fixed cost and a variable cost per given period of time. The fixed cost usually covers fees for the following services per given period of time: a predetermined phone call duration for local calls, long-distance calls, and/or international calls, the predetermined phone call duration being applicable to incoming and/or outgoing calls; a predetermined number of local text messages, long-distance text messages, and/or international text messages, the predetermined number of text messages being applicable to incoming and/or outgoing text messages ; and/or a predetermined amount of data.

The variable cost covers fees for additional services which are not covered by the fixed cost. For example, the variable cost may covers the following fees: an excess call fee, such as a per-minute or per-second fee, for any local, longdistance, and/or international call in excess of the predetermined phone call duration for the given period of time; a message fee, such as a per-message fee, for any local, long-distance, and/or international text or SMS messages in excess of the predetermined number of SMS messages for the given period of time; and/or an excess data fee, such as a per MB data excess fee, for any data amount in excess of the predetermined amount of data for the given period of time.

In one embodiment, a mobile plan may also comprise free calls for specific periods of time. For example, all incoming calls and all outgoing local calls that occur during a weekend may be free. In another example, all incoming and outgoing all incoming calls and all outgoing local calls that occur between 7:00 PM and 6:00 Am may be free.

The cost of each predefined mobile plan for the determined past usage history is then calculated.

For example, a given predefined mobile plan may comprise, per month, 100 minutes of outgoing phone calls, free incoming calls, 50 incoming or outgoing SMS messages, and 1 GB data. With this mobile plan, any minute of outgoing calls in excess of the first 100 minutes are charges according to a per-minute fee. Any incoming or outgoing longdistance and international calls are charged according to a per-minute fee. Any incoming or outgoing text messages in excess of the first 50 messages are charges according to a per-message fee. Furthermore, any data used by the user in excess of the first 1 GB of data is charged according to a per-MB fee.

For example, the past usage history determined at step 12 includes, per month, 132 minutes of outgoing local calls, 283 minutes of incoming local calls, 24 minutes of incoming and outgoing long-distance calls, 7 minutes of outgoing international calls, 61 incoming and outgoing SMS messages, and 800 Mb data.

In this example, if he would have adapted the above-described mobile plan, the user would have used 32 extra minutes for outgoing local calls, and an additional call fee corresponding to 32 minutes multiplied by the per-minute fee would add to the cost of the mobile plan. Since the mobile includes free incoming local calls, no extra charge is applied for incoming local calls. Since the mobile plan includes no long-distance or international minutes, additional fees are charged for long-distance calls and international calls. The additional fee for long-distance calls corresponds to 24 minutes multiplied by the per-minute fee for long-distance calls, and the additional fee for international calls corresponds to 7 minutes multiplied by the per-minute fee for international calls. No additional fee would charged for data since the user would not have used all of the data included in the mobile plan. The total cost for the mobile plan according to the user usage history then corresponds to the monthly cost of the mobile plan in addition to the additional fee for extra incoming local calls, the additional fee for long-distance calls, the additional fee for international calls, and the additional cost for extra SMS messages. Once the cost of each mobile plan according to the user past usage history has been determined, the thus-obtained are compared together, at step 16, and ranked from the most cost-effective mobile plan to the most expensive mobile plan. At least the most cost- effective mobile plan according to the user past usage history is identified and outputted at step 18. The most cost-effective mobile plan may be sent to the user mobile device and displayed to the user.

The identification of the most cost-effective may comprise the cost according to the user past usage history, the monthly cost for the mobile plan, a description of the services included in the mobile plan, the name of the carrier offering the mobile plan, and/or the like. It should be understood that more than one cost-effective plan may be outputted at step 18. For example, the five most cost-effective mobile plans may be outputted and displayed to the user.

In one embodiment, the method 10 further comprises a step of receiving a list of carriers or telephone companies for which the user is interested in receiving cost-effective mobile plans. For example, a list of carriers may be sent to the user mobile device and displayed to the user. The user then selects the given carriers for which he is interested in receiving offers. In this case, the set of predefined mobile plans only includes the mobile plans offered by the selected carriers and the cost-effective mobile plans presented to the user includes mobile plans that are offered only by the selected carriers. In one embodiment, the set of predefined mobile plans only includes mobile plans that correspond to the geographical location of the user. The geographical region of the user may be determined using the area code of the user phone number, and only mobile plans offered within the user geographical region are included in the set of predefined mobile plans. In one embodiment, the method 10 determines the most cost-effective mobile plan while further taking into account the antenna strength. The position from which the user most often uses his mobile device is determined using the GPS of the mobile device. For each most cost-effective mobile plan, a given user being a customer of the carrier offering the most cost effective plan and being located close to the position from which the user most often uses his mobile device is identified. The antenna strength of the given user is determined. This antenna strength is then assigned to most cost effective mobile plan. If the antenna strength is equal to or greater than a given strength threshold, then the most cost-effective mobile plan is presented to the user. Alternatively, if the antenna strength is below the strength threshold, then the most cost-effective mobile plan is discarded and another most cost-effective plan is determined.

In one embodiment, the above-described method 10 is embodied as a system 50 comprising a usage unit 52 and a selection unit 54. The usage unit 52 is adapted to receive, from the user mobile device, the mobile consumption made by the user during a given past period of time, i.e. the information about the incoming and outgoing calls for the given past period of time, the information about the SMS messages sent and received during the given past period of time, the information about the emails sent and received during the given past period of time, and the information about the data used by the user during the given past period of time. From the received information, the usage unit 52 determines the usage history for the given past period of time using the above-described method. Particularly, the usage unit 52 determines at least the phone call type for each incoming and outgoing call, the text type for each incoming and outgoing SMS or text messages, the amount of data corresponding to the sent and received emails, and the amount of data corresponding to the use of the Internet or any application. In one embodiment, the usage unit 52 comprises, stored thereon, a database of phone area codes and their respective approximate location. The database is accessed in order to determine approximate locations corresponding to phone numbers to which emails or phone calls are sent or from which emails or phone calls are received. In another embodiment, the database is external to the usage unit 52 which is adapted to remotely access the database in order to determine approximate locations.

The usage unit 52 then transmits the determined usage history to the selection unit 54. The selection unit 54 is adapted to access a database of available mobile plans and determine the cost of each mobile plan according to the received usage history, as described above. It should be understood that the database of mobile plans may be locally stored on a memory of the selection unit 54. Alternatively, the database may be remotely located and remotely accessible by the selection unit 54. In one embodiment, the selection unit 54 is adapted to receive the geographical area corresponding to the mobile device and to only select mobile plans that are offered within the geographical area. The cost-effective mobile plan is then determined using the selected mobile plans. In another embodiment, the selection unit 54 is adapted to receive, from the usage unit 52, the phone number associated with the user mobile device and to determine the geographical area corresponding to the mobile device by accessing a local or remote database of phone area codes and corresponding geographical area.

In one embodiment, the usage unit 52 is integral with the mobile device of the user which comprises a processing unit, a data storing unit, and a wireless communications unit, and the selection unit 54 is located on a remote server. The usage unit 52 may be embodied as an application coupled to the processing unit of the mobile device in order to execute the steps of determining the usage history. In this case, the mobile device determines the usage history and sends it the server which determines the cost-effective mobile plan(s). The cost-effective mobile plan(s) is(are) sent from the server to the mobile device which displays the receive cost-effective mobile plan(s) to the user. In another embodiment, both the usage unit 52 and the selection unit 54 are integral with the user mobile device which comprises a processing unit, a data storing unit, and a wireless communication unit. In this case, the processing unit of the user mobile device is adapted to locally determine the usage history and the cost-effective mobile plan(s). The cost-effective mobile plan(s) is(are) displayed on the display unit of the mobile device. Alternatively, the cost-effective mobile plan(s) may be stored in the storing unit for subsequent consultation by the user.

In a further embodiment, both the usage unit 52 and the selection unit 54 are integrated within a server being in communication with the user mobile device. In this case, the server is adapted to receive determine the usage history and the cost-effective mobile plan(s). The cost-effective mobile plan(s) is(are) displayed on the display unit of the mobile device. Alternatively, the cost-effective mobile plan(s) may be stored in memory for subsequent consultation by the user.

In the present description there is described a method of determining an approximate location using the area code or an area code and a central office code (also called Nxx number in North America). It should be understood that this method is not limited to North American phone numbers. In most countries, a phone number contains an area code indicative of a geographical region related to the phone number. The area code may have a fixed length, e.g., three digits in the United States and Canada; two digits in Brazil; one digit in Australia and New Zealand. The area code may have a variable length, e.g., between 2 and 5 in Germany, Argentina, United Kingdom and in Austria; between 1 and 5 in Japan; 1 or 2 in Syria and Peru. The area code may also be incorporated into the subscriber's number, as is the case in many countries, such as Spain or Norway.

However, in some cases, a phone number may not be indicative of an approximate location. In this case, the above-described method of determining an approximate location using a phone number may be performed using a database of phone numbers and corresponding approximate locations. In this case, the approximate location is retrieved from the database. The database may be locally stored on the mobile device or the server, or remotely located and accessible by the mobile device or the server.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.