An information broker operates a location server coupled to a wireless network
and a wireline network, which acquires and processes information indicating locations
of mobile communication devices on the wireless network. The information broker
provides the processed information to one or more recipients. The processed information
may be provided by the information broker to a recipient in exchange for payment,
as part of a business transaction. The raw or processed location related information
may include a history of locations of a mobile communication device and times and
durations associated with the locations. The processed information may include
graphs or maps of geographic areas in which the mobile devices have been located,
movement trends, or other behavioral patterns of mobile users. The processed location
data can also be used in performing location-based searches and other location-related
applications and for customer analysis, among other uses.