1. An apparatus for use with an interactive service device, the apparatus comprising: a passive communication listener to be coupled to the interactive service device for acquiring usage information from the interactive service device without intercepting communications of the interactive service device, wherein the passive communication listener is configured to distinguish between on-line communications and off-line communications associated with the interactive service device, identify which of the on-line communications or off-line communications is employed by the interactive service device, designate a first usage information extraction technique based on identifying the on-line communications or a second usage information technique based on identifying the off-line communications, and extract usage information using the designated first or second information extraction technique, wherein the usage information is associated with at least one of an on-line service or a software application.