GB2376844A

GB2376844A - Disposable prepaid mobile phone operated by speech recognition

Info

Publication number: GB2376844A
Application number: GB0114905A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Segal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-19
Filing date: 2001-06-19
Publication date: 2002-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-19
Also published as: GB2376844B; GB0114905D0

Abstract

A disposable pre-paid mobile phone consisting of two thin pieces of material (either plastic, or laminated paper or cardboard, or other suitable material) preferably of approximately same dimensions as a traditional credit card, joined at one end by a hinge . The phone is used by pressing a single 'Call' button marked with a phone symbol 3 which will connect the user, via a mobile network, back to a telecommunications switch. The user is then asked to speak the number that they wish to be connected to, or to choose one of the other options presented to them (including HELP or connection to a live operator).

Description

DESCRIPTION DISPOSABLE PRE-PAID MOBILE PHONE (VOICE ACTIVATED) This invention relates to the construction of a disposable mobile communications device offering an alternative to widely used pre-paid plastic phone cards or to taking out an expensive airtime agreement with a mobile network operator.

Pre-paid plastic phone cards are widely used as a low cost way of making phone calls and are well suited to the needs of people making infrequent calls, or a limited number of calls from a specific location (notably people holidaying in Europe or further a field). There are, however, a number of problems associated with this product type including :- Necessity to find a phone before being able to make a call . Unreliability of access numbers Complexity of use Traditionally, the alternative has been to either use the phone at the hotel (often incurring large surcharges), find a local phone box (necessitates having enough loose change in the local currency), or enter into a roaming agreement with a mobile network provider (costly, and may require setting up of direct debit account etc).

This invention of a disposable pre-paid mobile phone would allow calls to be made both simply and conveniently whilst addressing the problems associated with plastic phone cards.

Each disposable pre-paid mobile phone consists of two thin pieces of material, preferably the same dimensions as a traditional credit card, joined at one end by a hinge (FIGURE 1). Opening the phone up, by pulling apart the top and bottom section turns the phone on.

Once opened, the phone can be used by pressing a single'Call'button marked with a phone symbol (FIGURE 2,3) which will connect the user, via a mobile network, back to a telecommunications switch. The user is then asked to speak the number that they wish to be connected to, or to choose one of the other options presented to them (including HELP or connection to a live operator).

After a pre-determined time, connection is terminated either by the expiration of the phone's internal power source or by the expiration of available credit stored at the remote telecommunications switch. At this point the phone can simply be thrown away.

The amount of connection time available on each phone is pre-set according to destination that the phone is used from. Each phone is sold with a stated amount of call time from a particular country back to the UK e. g. 15 minutes from France to UK, 30 minutes from USA to UK or 45 minutes from UK to UK, and can be used only from that country.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- FIGURE 1 shows a front view of the disposable pre-paid mobile phone closed up

FIGURE 2 shows a view of the disposable pre-paid mobile phone opened, ready for use.

FIGURE 3 shows a back view of the solar-cell version of the phone.

FIGURE 4 shows a version of the phone utilising a limited life solar-cell as the power source opened, ready for use.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the disposable pre-paid mobile phone consists of two thin pieces of material 1 & 2, (either plastic, or laminated paper or cardboard, or other suitable material) preferably of approximately same dimensions as a traditional credit card, joined at one end by a hinge 3. On the top half of the phone is an information area 4 showing the country from which the phone can be used along with the talk time available. There is also a larger area 5 available for advertising or over-branding purposes.

FIGURE 2 shows the phone in the open'ready to use'position, with the contacts 1 & 2 having been broken. The phone is used by pressing the'Call'button 3 (marked with a phone symbol) which is slightly recessed 4 into the phone to prevent accidental usage. A speaker 5 and a microphone 6 allow the user to listen and speak during the progress of the call. A brief set of instructions 7 is also included for information purpose.

FIGURE 3 shows a back view of the solar-cell version of the phone showing the area for instructions 1.

FIGURE 4 shows the limited life solar-cell version of the phone in the open'ready to use'position. The solar-cell 1 is exposed to an available light source (e. g. room lighting or the sun) powering the phone. The phone is used by pressing the'Call' button 2 (marked with a phone symbol) which is slightly recessed 3 into the phone to prevent accidental usage. A speaker 4 and a microphone 5 allow the user to listen and speak during the progress of the call.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A disposable mobile phone with a single button for making calls, and which utilises speech recognition technology to allow the user to make calls or use other options or services offered via the phone, and which is limited to making calls from a specified country back to the UK, and which has a pre-set amount of talk time, and which is powered by an electric cell activated by the breaking of two contacts.
2. A phone as claimed in Claim 1 where the power is provided by a limited life solar-cell.
3. A phone as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is limited for use within the UK.
4. A phone as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is only able to dial one specific number, for example an emergency breakdown service.
5. A phone as claimed in any proceeding claim which replacing the single'call' button with a conventional telephone keypad having the numerals 0,1, 2,3, 4,5, 6,7, 8,9 and the symbols * and #.
6. A disposable mobile phone substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.