In some embodiments, responses provided by participants during an authentication procedure may include a response that represents and authorization from the participant to pay for the communication. One example of such a response includes premium SMS messages. Billing subsystem 204 determines the cost of a requested communication, manages billing accounts of participants, and, upon receiving a response authorizing payment, organizes the payment of a requested communication from the appropriate billing account associated with the participant that sent the authorization. As one example, one embodiment of an authentication step is an SMS message that is sent to the communication device of the participant. In some embodiments, the SMS message requests the participant to reply to the SMS with an authorization to pay for the communication using a billing account associated with the participant. One example of an authorization to pay includes but is not limited to the user responding with a message, such as an SMS response or an email message, that includes the user's permission (such as a password associated with the billing account or any identifier associated with the billing account that links the participant to the billing account).