US Patent 8200736 Virtual SIM card for mobile handsets

A system and method for providing a capability to backup cellular telephone provisioning information and personal data from a mobile handset on a server. A user initializes an account with a service provider with authentication credentials and backs up provisioning information and personal data stored within a mobile handset to server for safe keeping. The provisioning information and personal data can be accessed via the cellular telephone network so that the provisioning and personal data can be transferred among mobile handsets. This allows a user to restore personal data quickly and easily if a mobile handset replaced, lost or destroyed. The system and method further provide the capability to remotely provision new mobile handsets.