Communication management and wireless roaming support

A system comprising:

• a mobile communication device operative to:
• receive security information, the security information received by the mobile communication device during authentication of the mobile communication device to establish a wireless connection between the mobile communication device and a first wireless access point;
• detect presence of a second wireless access point associated with a second private wireless network service provider;
• and
• via the security information received by the mobile communication device during the authentication, connect the mobile communication device to the second wireless access point associated with the second wireless network service provider.

In a wireless network providing first wireless network services from a first wireless access point associated with a first private wireless network service provider and second wireless services from a second wireless access point associated with a second private wireless network service provider, a method comprising:

• transmitting wireless communications indicating presence of the second wireless access point;
• receiving a request from a communication device to establish a wireless connection with the second wireless access point;
• and
• from the second wireless access point, communicating with an authentication server operated by the first private wireless network service provider to verify prior authentication of the communication device for use of the second wireless access point by the communication device;
• and
• the method further comprising:
• receiving the request in response to the communication device detecting that the second private wireless network service provider:
• i) is a partner with the first private wireless network service provider, and ii) provides wireless access to subscribers of the first private wireless network service provider.

In a wireless network providing first wireless network services from a first wireless access point associated with a first private wireless network service provider and second wireless services from a second wireless access point associated with a second private wireless network service provider, a method comprising:

• transmitting wireless communications indicating presence of the second wireless access point;
• receiving a request from a communication device to establish a wireless connection with the second wireless access point;
• and
• from the second wireless access point, communicating an authentication server operated by the first private wireless network service provider to verify prior authentication of the communication device for use of the second wireless access point by the communication device;
• wherein communicating with the authentication server further comprises:
• forwarding a message on behalf of the communication device to the authentication server operated by the first private wireless network service provider, the message including an identity of the communication device, the message indicating that the communication device requests to establish a connection with the second wireless access point;
• forwarding a challenge generated by and received from the authentication server to the communication device.