Enabling and controlling access to wireless hot spots

A process of enabling and controlling access to a wireless hotspot by a wireless portable device, said process comprising:

• receiving an access request, seeking access to a wireless hotspot, from an access seeking entity, where the access request includes an identifier used to authenticate the wireless portable device;
• checking the identifier against a database of authorized identifiers;
• and
• sending authorization data to the access seeking entity when the identifier is found in the database.

A system for enabling and controlling access to a wireless hotspot by a wireless portable device, comprising:

• sending means for sending an access request, seeking access to a wireless hotspot, to an authenticating entity;
• timing means for awaiting response to the access request;
• responding means for responding with additional verification information when requested by the wireless hotspot;
• and
• exchanging means for exchanging wireless network data between the wireless portable device and the wireless hotspot;
• wherein the access request includes an identifier used by the authenticating entity to authenticate the wireless portable device.

A system for enabling and controlling access to a wireless hotspot by a wireless portable device, said process comprising:

• receiving means for receiving an access request, seeking access to a wireless hotspot, from an access seeking entity, where the access request includes an identifier used to authenticate the wireless portable device;
• checking means for checking the identifier against a database of authorized identifiers;
• and
• sending means for sending authorization data to the access seeking entity when the identifier is found in the database.

A system for enabling and controlling access to a wireless hotspot by a wireless portable device, comprising:

• a sender, for sending an access request, seeking access to a wireless hotspot, to an authenticating entity;
• a timer, for awaiting response to the access request;
• a responder, for responding with additional verification information when requested by the wireless hotspot;
• and
• an exchanger, for exchanging wireless network data between the wireless portable device and the wireless hotspot;
• wherein the access request includes an identifier used by the authenticating entity to authenticate the wireless portable device.

A system for enabling and controlling access to a wireless hotspot by a wireless portable device, said process comprising:

• a receiver, for receiving an access request, seeking access to a wireless hotspot, from an access seeking entity, where the access request includes an identifier used to authenticate the wireless portable device;
• a checker, for checking the identifier against a database of authorized identifiers;
• and
• a sender, for sending authorization data to the access seeking entity when the identifier is found in the database.