Methods and apparatus for use in facilitating access to a communication service via a WLAN hotspot

A wireless communication device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;
• a user interface coupled to the one or more processors;
• a memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• select a wireless communication network available for communications in a coverage area of the wireless communication device;
• establish a connection with the wireless communication network via the wireless transceiver;
• transmit, via the wireless transceiver, a request to a server site external to the wireless communication network;
• receive, via the wireless transceiver, a response to transmitting the request;
• determine from the response message, whether the request to the server site has been redirected to a redirect server site of the wireless communication network, wherein the determining comprises:
• comparing a first text string received in the response message with a second text string stored in the memory;
• and
• in response to determining a match between the first and second text strings, indicating that the request to the server site has not been redirected.

A method in a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

• selecting a wireless communication network available for communications in a coverage area of the wireless communication device;
• establishing a connection with the wireless communication network;
• transmitting a request to a server site external to the wireless communication network;
• receiving a response message in response to transmitting the request;
• and
• determining at the wireless communication device, from the response message, whether the request to the server site has been redirected to a redirect server site of the wireless communication network, wherein the determining comprises:
• comparing a first text string in the response message with a second text string stored at the wireless communication device;
• and
• in response to determining a mismatch between the first and second text string, indicating at the communication device that the request to the server site has been redirected.

A method at a wireless communication device comprising:

• connecting with a wireless communication network;
• after connecting with the wireless communication network, sending a request to a server site external to the wireless communication network;
• receiving a response message in response to the request;
• comparing the response message with a first text string stored at the wireless communication device;
• and
• determining that the request was not redirected when the first text string is found in the response message.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer instructions executable by one or more processors of a wireless communication device for performing:

• selecting a wireless communication network available for communications in a coverage area of the wireless communication device;
• establishing a connection with the wireless communication network;
• transmitting a request to a server site external to the wireless communication network;
• receiving a response message in response to transmitting the request;
• and
• determining at the wireless communication device, from the response message, whether the request to the server site has been redirected to a redirect server site of the wireless communication network, wherein the determining comprises:
• comparing a first text string received in the response message with a second text string stored at the wireless communication device;
• and
• in response to determining a match between the first and second text strings, indicating at the wireless communication device that the request to the server site has not been redirected.