Certification and activation of used phones purchased through an online auction

Abstract

A system and method for providing an online auction of a wireless device. An indicator is displayed to a winner of an online auction of the wireless device. The indicator is associated with an option for the user to certify the wireless device for use with one or more providers of telecommunications services. The wireless device is certified in response to the selection of the indicator by the winner.

1 . A method for providing an online auction of a wireless device, the method comprising:
 displaying an indicator to a winner of an online auction of the wireless device, the indicator being associated with an option for the user to certify the wireless device for use with one or more providers of telecommunications services; and   certifying the wireless device in response to the selection of the indicator by the winner.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing an identifier associated with the wireless device, and wherein certifying the wireless device further comprises comparing the stored identifier to one or more identifiers associated with telecommunications devices that are indicated as not certifiable.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying the one or more telecommunications service providers;   receiving a selection associated with one of the one or more telecommunications service providers; and   enabling access by the wireless device to the telecommunications services provided by the selected one of the one or more telecommunications service providers.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 conveying the selection to the selected one or more telecommunications service providers.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying and certifying occurs through an online auction website. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 requesting telecommunication services through a certification and activation website.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 querying a buyer of the wireless device to determine whether the wireless device is approved for a network associated with the provider of telecommunications services.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless device is approved for the network if the wireless device is not listed on a do not activate list. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing a site explaining available telecommunications services.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the site is linked from the online auction website. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the site is linked from an end-of-auction email. 
     
     
         12 . A website for activating a used wireless device comprising:
 a displaying module for providing an indicator to a winner of an online auction of the used wireless device, the indicator being associated with an option for the user to certify the used wireless device for use with one or more providers of telecommunications services; and   a certification module for certifying the used wireless device in response to the selection of the indicator by the winner.   
     
     
         13 . The website of  claim 12 , wherein the displaying module presents the one or more providers of telecommunications services based on the anticipated usage area of the winner. 
     
     
         14 . The website of  claim 12 , wherein the certification module stores an identifier associated with the wireless device, and compares the stored identifier to one or more identifiers associated with telecommunications devices that are indicated as not certifiable. 
     
     
         15 . The website of  claim 12 , wherein the website communicates with the winner through an interactive voice system. 
     
     
         16 . The website of  claim 12 , wherein the certification module allows the winner to establish an account with the one or more providers of telecommunications services. 
     
     
         17 . The website of  claim 12 , wherein the website is an online-auction. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for activating a used wireless device, the computer program product comprising:
 computer usable program code for displaying an indicator to a winner of an online auction of the used wireless device, the indicator being associated with an option for the user to certify the used wireless device for use with one or more providers of telecommunications services; and   computer usable program code for certifying the used wireless device in response to the selection of the indicator by the winner.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , comprising:
 computer usable program code for receiving activation information from the user; and   computer usable program code for sending the activation information to a selected telecommunications service provider.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , comprising computer usable program code for storing an identifier associated with the wireless device, and wherein certifying the wireless device further comprises comparing the stored identifier to one or more identifiers associated with telecommunications devices that are indicated as not certifiable.