Customer activation system

A Customer Activation System, including a method and apparatus, for expeditiously providing a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) customer access to CMR service. The system includes a regional processor programmed to: (a) accept information identifying the CMR customer; (b) obtain a credit check of the CMR customer; (c) assign a telephone number to the CMR customer; and (d) insert and activate the telephone number in a cellular switch. Specifically, once a selling agent has been permitted to log on to the System, the agent enters, through a data entry device coupled to the regional processor, the customer's social security number. The regional processor responds with a voice prompt that provides expanded information derived from the social security number. If the expanded information is accurate, the processor obtains a credit check by, for example, commissioning a credit service bureau. If the credit check results in approval, the agent then enters, via the data entry device, number data corresponding to the NPA/NNX of the CMR system to which the customer desires to subscribe. The regional processor allocates a 4-digit suffix to the NPA/NNX so as to formulate the customer's CMR telephone number or MID. The processor then inserts and activates the MID in an associated cellular switch. In addition, should the need arise during the customer activation process, the processor has the capability of connecting the agent to a customer service representative. Finally, the System generates a billing record for entry on a billing processor and, after the billing record is properly generated and inserted, generates a "Welcome" letter to confirm the customer's personal data and selection of service options.