Methods, systems, and products for providing communications services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. Multiple communications networks are discovered that are available to a client device. A request is communicated from the client device. A bid from a service provider is received at the client device.

1 . A method of providing communications services, comprising:
 discovering, at a client device, multiple communications networks available to the client device;   communicating, from the client device, a request for communications service; and   receiving, at the client device, a bid from a service provider of at least one of the communications networks to fulfill the request for communications service.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising communicating the request for communications service to multiple service providers, each service provider providing access to at least one of the multiple communications networks. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining that the bid satisfies a constraint. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the bid to other bids received from other service providers. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining which of the bids satisfies a constraint. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein when multiple bids satisfies the constraint, then further comprising selecting at least one of the bids. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein when multiple bids satisfies the constraint, then further comprising accepting additional bids. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising discarding at least one of the bids. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining a winning bid. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising communicating an acceptance to a winning service provider. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising receiving a confirmation of the winning bid. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising negotiating, at the client device, with the service provider. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an alternative option for providing the communications service. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising determining when the alternative option is acceptable. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising communicating a competitive indication. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising communicating at least one of a price, a date, and a time. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving the bid further comprises receiving at least one of i) a price for utilizing the service provider's service, ii) a date for the communications service, and iii) a time that the communications service will be fulfilled. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein discovering the multiple communications networks comprises dynamically discovering the multiple communications networks when global positioning system coordinates indicate a change of “n” units. 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing communications services, comprising:
 receiving, at a service provider, a request for communications service originating from a client device, the request for communications service requesting communications service from the service provider;   developing a bid to fulfill the request for communications service, the bid comprising a price for utilizing the service provider's services; and   communicating the bid to the client device,   wherein the client device accepts or denies the bid.   
     
     
         20 . A system for providing communications services, comprising:
 means for discovering, at a client device, multiple communications networks available to the client device;   means for communicating, from the client device, a request for communications service; and   means for receiving, at the client device, a bid from a service provider of at least one of the communications networks to fulfill the request for communications service.