A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing pre-pay and post-pay
calls. After receiving a pre-pay call, an integrated service platform
obtains and transfers a pre-pay destination number and a pre-pay
validation parameter to a switching system. The switching system then
releases the pre-pay call extension to the integrated service platform
and extends the pre-pay call using the pre-pay destination number. As the
pre-pay call is in progress, the switching system monitors a duration of
the pre-pay call and terminates the pre-pay call if the duration meets or
exceeds a pre-pay amount indicated by the pre-pay validation parameter.
In this manner, integrated service platforms, as required by prior
approaches, are no longer required to be connected to the pre-pay call
for the entire duration of the pre-pay call. Rather, an integrated
service platform can request and receive authorization and call
destination information, then be released for use by other calls. After
receiving the post-pay call, the integrated service platform obtains and
transfers a post-pay destination number and a post-pay validation
parameter to the switching system. The switching system then releases the
post-pay call extension to the integrated service platform and extends
the post-pay call using the post-pay destination number if the post-pay
validation parameter allows the post-pay call. One advantage for post-pay
calls is the provision of post-pay calls service such as messaging and
validation is centralized in the integrated service platform, which
reduces the time and cost of maintaining the post-pay service.