Mobile internet access

An apparatus for use in enabling an Internet Protocol (IP) enabled mobile host to access the Internet via a visited access network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for negotiating an IP address between the mobile host and the visited access networks, wherein the mobile host has no direct or indirect billing relationship with the visited access network and the mobile host determines whether the IP address is associated with any other mobile host connected to the visited access network, and
• a control point within the visited access network for receiving electronic cash from the mobile host and for determining whether the received electronic cash is authentic and if the received electronic cash is authentic sending an authorization message to an IP node within the visited access network,
• the IP node being arranged to block the transfer of messages between the mobile host and the Internet prior to receipt of an authorization message from the control point and to allow the transfer of the messages upon receipt of the authorization message.