Disclosed is a system and method for enabling personalized shared mobile phone usage when accessing data services within a wireless telecommunications network, including an illustrative example application of the invention as it relates to mobile subscribers who cannot afford a mobile phone handset in emerging markets. For instance, a prepaid wireless subscriber can have a personal phone number associated with their own billing account, which can be used to access data services on a wireless network without needing to purchase any hardware, such as a mobile handset or SIM card. Thus, the subscriber may access his account and use data services through a borrowed handset.