Distribution channel management for wireless devices and services

Abstract

A system and method for distribution channel management for devices and services in the wireless telecommunications industry are disclosed. A product ordering software module is integrated with an activation and credit scoring software module, a commissions management software module, and a coop management software module, wherein the software modules are optionally integrated with additional software modules for product and service management, and report generation. A plurality of geographically distributed dealer agents who operate retail interfaces with customers use a web-based interface with the software modules and a data link with one or more distribution centers for delivery of wireless devices from a plurality of wireless device manufacturers, and with one or more carriers providing the subscription services activated for the customers via the activation and credit scoring software module.

1 . A system for managing a wireless device arid service distribution channel, comprising:
 a product ordering software module integrated with an activation and credit scoring software module, a commissions management software module, and a coop management software module, wherein the software modules are optionally integrated with additional software modules for product and service management, and report generation;   a web-based interface between the software modules and a plurality of geographically distributed dealer agents who operate retail interfaces with customers for the sale of wireless devices and subscription services;   a data link with one or more distribution centers for delivery of wireless devices from a plurality of wireless device manufacturers in accordance with orders processed by the product ordering software module;   an interface between the software modules and a plurality of carriers providing the subscription services activated for the customers via the activation and credit scoring software module.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the dealer agents are authorized agents for the sale of the subscription services by at least two of the carriers. 
     
     
         3 . An indirect dealer agent distribution channel management system, comprising:
 a web-based presentation layer for interfacing and exchanging data between a plurality of wireless dealer agents, at least one wireless carrier and at least one distribution center;   a communication layer for interfacing and exchanging data between the presentation layer and a plurality of wireless business function modules including at least product ordering, activation and credit scoring, commissions management, coop management, and content management and delivery, 1 and optionally including modules for product and service management, report 1 generation, and metrics gathering;   wherein each of the wireless business function modules has access to a distribution channel database for the storage and retrieval of data used by the modules;   a data link provided between the product ordering module and the at least one product distribution center;   an optional data-mining engine for selecting data from the database for the report generation module.   
     
     
         4 . A wireless indirect dealer agent management system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of dealer agents for selling wireless devices and carrier subscription services to customers;   (b) a plurality of carriers for providing the subscription services to the customers;   (c) a web-based presentation layer for the dealer agents and the carriers to interface with channel management software including at least content management, wireless device ordering and reporting tools, and optionally including one or more tools for supplying rate plan information, product marketing, credit scoring, activation, coop management, commission management and combinations thereof;   (d) a data link between the channel management software and a database for storing and retrieving channel management data;   (e) a data link between the channel management software and one or more distribution centers for supplying wireless devices from one or more manufacturers to the deafer agents according to orders placed via the wireless device ordering tool.   
     
     
         5 . A wireless indirect dealer agent management system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of dealer agents for selling wireless devices and carrier subscription services to customers;   (b) one or more carriers for providing the subscription services to the customers;   (c) software modules for product and service management, coop management, commissions management, activation and credit.scoring, replenishment ordering, and report generation;   (d) a presentation layer for interfacing between the plurality of dealer agents and the software modules; and   (e) a content management and delivery module for interfacing between one or more carriers and the software modules.   
     
     
         6 . A wireless indirect dealer agent management system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of dealer agents for selling wireless devices and carrier subscription services to customers;   (b) one or more carriers for providing the subscription services to the customers;   c) a communication layer for interfacing between software modules for product and service management, coop management, commissions management, activation and credit scoring, data capture, replenishment ordering, content management and delivery, and report generation;   (d) a presentation layer for interfacing between the dealer agents and the communication layer;   (e) wherein the one or more carriers are linked for interfacing with the presentation layer, the communications layer, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a database for storing and retrieving data by the data capture software module and a data-mining engine operatively 3 associated with the database and the report generation software module for data mining and metrics reporting. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  comprising more than one carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  comprising one or more additional software modules linked to the communication layer for integrating one or more additional business functions into the system. 
     
     
         10 . A wireless indirect dealer agent management system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of wireless independent dealer agents for selling wireless devices and carrier subscription services to customers;   (b) in communication with an integrated channel management application system operated by a channel manager;   (c) for supplying the wireless devices from a plurality of distribution centers operated by the channel manager, the carrier, a third party independent of the channel manager and the carrier, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         11 . A wireless indirect dealer agent management system, comprising:
 (a) a channel manager network including functionality to order and pay for product, market product, manage coop, activate product, receive commission revenue, manage accounts, access third party transactions, input customer data, support advertising, train sales representatives, or a combination thereof;   (b) a channel management interface for a plurality of carriers to interface with the channel manager network;   (c) an agent interface for a plurality of dealer agents to interface with the channel manager network, wherein each dealer agent is an authorized activation agent for at least one of the carriers;   (d) a gateway through the channel manager network for each of the carriers to manage activations by respective authorized activation agents.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the dealer agents is an authorized activation agent for two or more of the carriers. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a third party interface for additional service providers and device manufacturers to interface with the channel manager, and a respective gateway through the channel manager network to manage sales by authorized dealer agents. 
     
     
         14 . computerized wireless indirect dealer agent management system, comprising:
 (a) a product ordering tool;   (b) a reporting tool;   (c) a content management tool;   (d) a commissions management tool;   (e) an enterprise database including a data warehouse, a membership and user database, and a product database;   (f) an applications programming interface between the tools and the enterprise database;   (g) graphical user interface processors operatively associated with each of the product ordering tool, the reporting tool, and the content management tool for exchanging data via internet browser with a plurality of: product ordering agents comprising wireless dealer agents; a plurality of reporting users comprising the wireless dealer agents arid at least one carrier; and a plurality of content managers including the at least one carrier.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the product ordering tool includes targeted marketing functionality. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the product ordering tool includes real-time status functionality. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the product ordering tool includes custom catalogs for the product ordering agents. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the product ordering tool includes advanced product navigation. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising additional business partners with Internet browsers for exchanging data with the graphical user interface processors. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a transaction broker-server for exchanging data with integration partners selected from external data warehouses, external credit scoring and activation systems, coop management partners, distribution centers, fulfillment centers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the transaction broker-server exchanges data in simple object access protocol or extensible markup language, 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a custom transaction client for exchanging data between the transaction broker server and an integration partner without simple object access protocol or extensible markup language capability.