Hitherto, in order to purchase a product online via a network such as through the worldwide web (www) it has been necessary for the customer to provide credit card details. This has excluded from the possibility of purchasing products in this manner a considerable number of people who cannot or will not use credit cards.

The present invention provides a system for purchasing products comprising: a network having: a plurality of member units for use by customers for ordering and paying for products; a server for storing data and performing calculations ; a database containing customer account information including customer unique identifier, customer credit; and means operable in response to input of a customer product request to interrogate said database and (i) where said product cost is less than the customer credit, instruct delivery of said product from an external store, and (ii) where said product cost is greater than said customer credit transmit a message to the customer member unit to this effect.

Preferably, the system includes value ids wherein each value id has a unique identifier and a credit value associated with the unique identifier. The system also includes means operable in response to input of a customer unique identifier number, mobile phone number and value id unique identifier to apply the credit of said value id to the customer account.

The value id may be in any suitable hard copy form such as a card, coupon, receipt (e. g. sales receipt), swipe card or in electronic form such as e-mail, SMS and MMS.

The present invention is further described herewith, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred form of network according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a database for use in the system of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a preferred form of network 10 in which 12 is a service provider server, 14 is a customer unit such as a mobile phone and 16 is a product provider unit.

The product provider unit 16 can be in the form of a supplier database or server which acts on instructions received from the service provider 12.

In the preferred system according to the present invention the service provider offers for sale to customers various"value"cards, which carry an amount of credit, for example £5, £10 or £20. These are similar in nature to, for example, telephone"top-up"phone cards and each value id has its own unique alphanumeric identifier. These cards can be sold through various retail outlets, typically newsagents and the like.

In order to purchase a product from the product supplier using the service provider for payment the customer must first register with the service provider and add credit to the customer's account with the service provider. The customer can do this either via the world wide web (www) or via his mobile phone.

Using his mobile phone the customer sends a text message to the service provider's phone number, the message including the customer's name, address and e-mail details and also his mobile phone number. The service provider then logs the customer details onto its database and sends a unique customer pin

number to the customer's mobile phone with a welcome message, confirmation of details and a credit report showing the amount of credit the service provider has logged against the customer. The customer can apply credit to his account at the same time as registering using a purchased value id or can add credit later.

To add credit, the customer purchases a value id and sends a text message to the service provider giving the customer's pin number and the value id unique number. Since the service provider will identify the mobile phone number on receipt of the message this with the pin number provides a secure way of ensuring the credit is correctly applied against the customer's account. The value id number is used by the service provider which interrogates a list of such numbers to identify the value of the card. The value id number list is one which has previously been generated for use in printing the value ids.

Using the web, the customer can access the service provider's website and again enter his name, address and e-mail details and also his mobile phone number.

The service provider then logs the customer details onto its database and sends a unique customer pin number to the customer's mobile phone or email address with a welcome message, confirmation of details and a credit report showing the amount of credit the service provider has logged against the customer.

To add credit after purchasing a value id the customer can log onto the service provider's website to enter the customer's pin number, mobile phone number and the value id unique number. Again, the mobile phone number with the pin number provides a secure way of ensuring the credit is correctly applied against the customer's account.

A product can be purchased by the customer again using his mobile phone or pc.

To use his mobile phone, the customer first notes the unique product number and any other identifier which the product supplier may require for identification of the product. This information can be included in, for example, advertisements in magazines, newspapers and on television. The customer then sends a text

message to the service provider including the product number, the customer's pin number and mobile phone number.

The service provider then checks the customer's available credit against the product cost and if there is sufficient credit for the purchase the service provider instructs delivery of the product and advises customer of this. If there is insufficient credit the service provider sends a text message to the customer advising the customer of the shortfall in credit and giving the customer the opportunity to increase his credit. The customer can then purchase a further value id to top up his credit to the required amount.

If the customer is browsing a product catalogue online, and chooses the service provider for his method of payment, a pop up window from the service provider appears requiring the customer to enter his pin number and mobile phone number. The service provider identifies the account and reports existing credit to the customer. If the credit is sufficient the product is despatched and the customer's credit adjusted accordingly. If there is insufficient credit the service provider advises this to the customer giving the customer the opportunity to increase his credit. The customer can then purchase a further value id to top up his credit to the required amount.

Figure 2 shows the relationship between a list of unique value id identifiers N1 to N+2 and a list of account customers R1 to R+2. In the example of Figure 2, customer R1 has had his account credited with the value of value ids N1, N3 and N whilst customer R2 has had his account credited with the value of value ids N4, and so on.

The system of the applicant makes it possible for a person who has a mobile phone and does not want to use credit cards or does not have a credit card to purchase products online via his mobile phone or pc and also to topup his credit account using his pc or mobile phone.