A method of using a telecommunications network cashless transaction
service is provided, in which a user accesses the service using a network
access instrument, such as a mobile phone which produces a signal. The
signal is forwarded to an interface device of the network, which extracts
service and user identity data therefrom, and passes the data to a
processing unit for the service of the network. The service processing
unit processes the data, instructs the interface device to forward the
access instrument signal to an input output device of the network, and
instructs the input output device to request transaction details from the
user. The details are sent to the input output device, which passes them
to the service processing unit which processes the details and decides
whether or not the transaction can proceed, causes output of a signal
conveying acceptance or rejection of the transaction to the user, and, if
the transaction can proceed, arranges for the transaction to be carried
out. The telecommunications network may comprise a fixed network, the
interface device may be a service switching point, the service processing
unit may be a service control point, and the input output device may be
an interactive/intelligent voice recognition unit.