# Open-to-all Prepaid Roaming System

Top Previous Next

Descriptions

Open-to-all Prepaid Roaming (OPR) allows the network operator to use existing UltraWAVE Prepaid System and prepay cards to deliver open-to-all prepaid services to all visiting GSM users. GSM users from any networks may subscribe the Open-to-all Prepaid Roaming service without changing their SIM cards. OPPS is introduced into UltraWAVE system to manage OPR user account: creates account, deletes account and inter-acts with other application entities of the system to implement OPR function. OPPS has the account database to store OPR subscriber information.

| User Identification

OPR uses IMEI of the mobile phone and home IMSI of the SIM card of the visitor as the user identifiers. If the registration is through auto-registration then OPR will collect the identifiers automatically. No user intervention is required. If the visitor registers the OPR service manually then he has to provide the IMEI as his identifier in the manual registration. The OPR will collect his home IMSI from his SIM card when he registers (location update) to the local GSM network.

OPR uses both IMEI and IMSI to identify an OPR subscriber. After the first successful registration to the local GSM network the OPR will record his IMEI and IMSI to his OPR account. That means the OPR user must keeps using the same mobile phone and SIM card to register to his OPR account and get the OPR services.

| Registration

When a visiting GSM user registers to the OPR system, either through “Auto-Registration” or “Manual-Registration”, the OPR will create a user account and assign a local phone number (MSISDN) to him. The OPR will also notify the UltraWAVE PPS and HLR to create a user account for the new OPR subscriber. An OPR welcome short message will be sent to the user to inform him his local phone number (MSISDN) and PIN number (using for Virtual Calling Card service), and make him aware that he is currently in the OPR mode. Then the OPR user will enjoy the prepaid services in the same way as a normal prepaid user after adding prepay credits to his OPR account.

This is the UltraWAVE PPS to manage the lifespan of the OPR accounts. When an OPR account expires, the PPS will notify HLR and OPPS to delete the OPR account from their databases.

| Visitors from PLMN without roaming agreement

Auto-Registration is for attracting more GSM visitors to use the OPR service. This function allows any visitors from other PLMNs that have no roaming agreements be registered to the local network immediately once it is being selected. Auto-Registration will create an OPR account for the visitor automatically and will send an OPR welcome short message to notify the visitor that an OPR account with a local phone number (MSISDN) is being created for him. The OPR welcome short message will also instruct the visitor how to add credit to activate the full services of his account.

The OPR account is on “trial” status when it is created in the Auto-Registration process. Subscriber has to add credit (recharge) to activate the account to “normal” status. When the OPR account is on “trial” status the subscriber may registers (location update) to the local network but is “restricted” to use partial prepaid services that are permitted by the operator. For example, the operator might allow the trial user to receive incoming calls but not making outgoing calls. In order to use the full prepaid services, the subscriber has to add credits to his account with prepay card. Normally, the trial subscriber will be given a few days to keep his account. If he doesn’t recharge his account within the operator defined period of time then the account will be expired and obsolete from the database.

Auto-Registration is only applicable to GSM visitors from PLMNs that have no roaming agreement with the local operator. OPR will not auto register GSM visitors who are coming from PLMNs with roaming agreements. Those users must open OPR account via voice call or internet manually.

Registration methods for visitors from PLMN without roaming agreement:

Auto-registration: visitor is inside the OPR network coverage
Auto-registration | •Just select the local OPR network, then done.
Manual-registration: visitor is outside the OPR network coverage
Manual-registration by voice call | •Buy a prepay card. •Jot down the IMEI of his mobile phone. •Call the OPR IVR center to register with the IMEI and the prepay card password.
Manual-registration by internet | •Buy a prepay card. •Jot down the IMEI of his mobile phone. •Visit the OPR web site to register with the IMEI and the prepay card password.

| Visitors from PLMN with roaming agreement

In following description we call GSM visitors who are from operators that have local roaming agreements in place as GSM roaming user.

A roaming welcome short message will be sent to an inbound GSM roaming user when he is roaming to the local network. The short message may also advertise to the roaming users the OPR service plan.

If the GSM roaming user wants to subscribe to the Open-to-all Prepaid Roaming service, then he has to buy a prepay card and then call the OPR IVR center to create an OPR account. The OPR IVR system will prompt the GSM roaming user to enter the prepay card password and the IMEI of his mobile phone to validate the subscription. After the roaming user successfully registers to the OPR service, he will be location update to both his home PLMN and the local network, and he’ll have two phone numbers: the home MSISDN and the local MSISDN. His home MSISDN is for receiving calls from his home PLMN only. That means a roamer OPR subscriber has two phone numbers. His friends may call him by his home phone number or the local phone number. Usually, his friends at his home town will call his home phone number and his local friends will call his local phone number to reach him. All the going calls are handling by the local network.

Registration methods for GSM roaming users:

Manual-registration: visitor is inside or outside the OPR network coverage
by voice call | •Buy a prepay card. •Jot down the IMEI of his mobile phone. •Call the OPR IVR center to register with the IMEI and the prepay card password.
by internet | •Buy a prepay card. •Jot down the IMEI of his mobile phone. •Visit the OPR web site to register with the IMEI and the prepay card password.

| Switching between roaming and OPR service mode

A registered roamer OPR user can switch his service mode between “roaming” and OPR through the OPR IVR center. He can call the OPR IVR center and follow the instructions to select the service mode. It will then inform the OPR system to change his service mode selection accordingly. The selected mode, “roaming” or OPR, will become effective immediately. A welcome short message will be sent to the user each time he is switching his service mode telling him his current service mode.

See Also

• Manage OPPS Subscriber

Return to

• Tasks List

• Elements List

2.1.1.9.2