Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for selecting a preferred wireless carrier from a plurality of wireless carriers for use by a mobile station when the mobile station is roaming outside of a home market area is provided. The apparatus comprises a database, a generator, and a data providing device. The database stores preferred wireless carrier identities for a plurality of market areas based upon predetermined classes of service, predetermined national accounts, and predetermined home market areas. The generator generates a list of the preferred wireless carrier identities based upon a selected class of service, a selected national account, a selected home market area of the mobile station. The data-providing device transmits the generated list to each mobile station designated with the selected class of service, selected national account and selected home market area. The list of preferred wireless carriers may be based upon the roaming wireless carriers' airtime rates and services provided for each of the plurality of market areas. The list may also be based upon a preferred or required air interface technology. The generator may update the list of preferred wireless carriers when one of the plurality of wireless carriers changes a communication characteristic (such as roaming airtime rates the wireless carrier charges for a market area, and services the wireless carrier offers to a market area). The data-providing device provides the updated list of preferred wireless carrier identities to each mobile station previously provided with the list the generator updated.

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First Claim