Method and apparatus for authentication scheme and for network access using an electronic frank

A method of providing bandwidth for a data transmission service over a communications network to a user who does not have prearranged access to the communications network at that bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of:

• associating an electronic frank containing information arranged to be authenticated whereby the electronic frank can be validated and processed to confirm if the frank meets at least one predetermined delivery criteria, the electronic frank being thus validated prior to data being transmitted to an intended recipient at a destination address, with data to be sent using said data transmission service, said electronic frank being associated with a cost-value;
• providing a data transmission service to send and/or receive franked data over said communications network at said bandwidth.

A method of providing a predetermined bandwidth for a data transmission service to a user who does not have prearranged access to a communications network at that bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of:

• enabling the user to indicate the desire to send data via a data transmission client application;
• enabling the user to purchase an electronic frank containing information arranged to be authenticated whereby the electronic frank can be validated and processed to confirm if the frank meets at least one predetermined delivery criteria, the electronic frank being thus validated prior to data being transmitted to a destination address of an intended recipient,
• wherein the electronic frank is associated with said data and a cost-value associated with the electronic frank has been charged to the user, wherein the association of the electronic frank with the data enables the data transmission client application to send and/or receive franked data via a server connected to the communications network at the predetermined bandwidth.