Customer to Supplier Funds Transfer

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.

1 . An apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier, the customer having a mobile cellular telephone with a telephone number, a mobile cellular operator providing mobile cellular services to the mobile cellular telephone, a customer browser component connected to a network, the apparatus comprising:
 a server component connected to the network; and   a database coupled to the server component, wherein the server component is configured to:
 transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; 
 populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; 
 populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and 
 facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the database includes a data table storing details of transactions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is configured to facilitate the transfer of transaction records to the customer browser component or to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is configured to transmit the premium rate mobile terminating text messages in a scheduled order over a number of days. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the server component is configured to schedule transmission of the premium rate mobile terminating text messages to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is configured to prompt the customer to supply additional personal data and populate the database with the additional personal data, wherein the access to the transaction record is facilitated only after the additional personal data is recorded. 
     
     
         7 . A method to provide customer to supplier funds transfer, the method comprising:
 transmitting a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages, from a server computer to a mobile cellular telephone at a telephone number of a customer, to effect a payment from the customer to a supplier after the customer has placed an order with the supplier;   populating a database at the server computer with an indication of the telephone number of the customer;   populating the database with a transaction record related to the transmitting of the premium rate text messages; and   facilitating access to the transmission record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the database includes a table of transaction records. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the access to the transmission record is facilitated by transmitting details to a browser of the customer or to the mobile cellular telephone at the telephone number of the customer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the details identify a total value of sales made over a period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the details show a total of sales that have not been cleared from a telephone account of the customer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitting of the premium rate mobile terminating text messages is according to a schedule over a number of days. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the schedule is determined to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the customer is prompted to supply additional personal data and the access to the transaction record is facilitated only after the additional personal data has been received. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 transmitting a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages, from the computer to a mobile cellular telephone at a telephone number of a customer, to effect a payment from the customer to a supplier after the customer has placed an order with the supplier;   populating a database at the computer with an indication of the telephone number of the customer;   populating the database with a transaction record related to the transmitting of the premium rate text messages; and   facilitating access to the transmission record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the access to the transmission record is facilitated by transmitting details to a browser of the customer or to the mobile cellular telephone at the telephone number of the customer. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the details identify a total value of sales made over a period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the details show a total of sales that have not been cleared from a telephone account of the customer. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitting of the premium rate mobile terminating text messages is according to a schedule over a number of days determined to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises prompting the customer to supply additional personal data; and wherein the access to the transaction record is facilitated only after the additional personal data has been received.