An option for customers to track their minute usage at any time, either from their handset or online so this way they can better control their usage, and not get any BIG surprise phone bill sent to their house.
The major supplier if am with has allowed this via their secure website for many years. It was the primary reason I left my former supplier. I argued with them that this was something they were obliged to offer; because I consider the purchase of minutes each month to be a standing back order. As you make calls your order is being shipped. You would not have much respect for any other company that would deny you access to you outstanding back order information. Don't accept this from service provider either.
Interestingly, a customer support representitive told me it was not possible to provide call and data usage at will; because the usage information is stored on tape. In fact, it was probably stored as a sequential disk file that has to be searched entirely in order to produce your billing information . In truth, it was not in their interest to provide this important information; because they wanted you to go over your limit so they can start providing additional service at to you; but, at the premium rate.
The irony is that with Pay-as-you-go type accounts it is in the carriers interest to provide your usage to you. If you know you don't have much air-time or data usage left and you want/need to use either; you are goning to have to buy more.
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