Wireless device registration, such as automatic registration of a Wi-Fi enabled device

A method for providing a wireless device with Wi-Fi access to a computer network, the method comprising:

• receiving a message regarding a request from a wireless device for access to the computer network,
• wherein the message includes a device identifier and a Wi-Fi service identifier,
• wherein the Wi-Fi service identifier is based on an embedded code in a memory of the wireless device;
• associating a Wi-Fi service plan with the wireless device based on at least the Wi-Fi service identifier,
• wherein the associating is initiated automatically, and
• wherein the service plan is based on an amount of bandwidth that is consumable by the wireless device under the service plan;
• automatically associating the device identifier with the Wi-Fi service plan;
• and
• authenticating wireless access between the wireless device and a Wi-Fi access point coupled to the computer network based on the Wi-Fi service plan,
• wherein the authenticating of the wireless access is not performed based on use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with the wireless device, and
• wherein the authenticating is performed without user input at the wireless device.

A tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents cause at least one computer to perform a method for activating a service plan for accessing a wireless packet-switched computer network, including a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), and/or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), the method comprising:

• receiving a first data packet from a computer network that is coupled to the server and a first wireless access point,
• wherein the first data packet includes a wireless service identifier corresponding to an embedded code of a wireless device that is in wireless communication with the first access point, and
• wherein the first data packet also includes a unique device identifier corresponding to the wireless device;
• identifying a wireless service plan based on the service identifier,
• wherein the identifying is initiated without user input at the wireless device, and
• wherein the service plan is a temporary wireless service plan;
• associating the identified wireless service plan with the device identifier, wherein the associating is initiated without user input at the wireless device;
• and
• communicating to the first access point a second data packet that enables the wireless device to access the WLAN, WWAN, and/or WMAN under the identified wireless service plan, wherein the WLAN, WWAN, and WMAN are not mobile telephone networks, and
• wherein the communicating is initiated without user input at the wireless device.

A wireless device, comprising:

• a wireless communication component configured to communicate over a wireless packet-based computer network;
• a memory storing a group identifier, wherein the group identifier is associated with a manufacturer of the wireless device, a resell of the wireless device, a vendor of the wireless device, a model of the wireless device, or a service plan,
• wherein the associating is initiated without user input at the wireless device,
• wherein the service plan is for wireless access to the IP based computer network and not to a cellular phone network,
• wherein the service plan is a temporary wireless service plan;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to communicate with the wireless communication component and the memory,
• wherein the communication is initiated without user input at the wireless device,
• wherein the memory stores processing instructions executable by the processor to initiate a set-up wireless data transmission that includes the unique device identifier and the group identifier,
• wherein the set-up wireless data transmission requests access to the wireless packet-based computer network, and
• wherein access to the wireless packet-based computer network is based at least in part on the group identifier.

An apparatus configured for activating a service plan for accessing a wireless packet-switched computer network, including a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), and/or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving a first data packet from a computer network that is coupled to the server and a first wireless access point,
• wherein the first data packet includes a wireless service identifier corresponding to an embedded code of a wireless device that is in wireless communication with the first access point, and
• wherein the first data packet also includes a unique device identifier corresponding to the wireless device;
• means, coupled to the means for receiving, for identifying a wireless service plan based on the service identifier,
• wherein the identifying a wireless service plan is performed without user input at the wireless device, and
• wherein the service plan is based on an amount of bandwidth that is consumable by the wireless device under the service plan;
• means, coupled to the means for identifying, for associating the identified wireless service plan with the device identifier,
• wherein the associating the identified wireless service plan with the device identifier is performed without user input at the wireless device;
• and
• means, coupled to the means for associating, for communicating to the first access point a second data packet that enables the wireless device to access the WLAN, WWAN, and/or WMAN under the identified wireless service plan,
• wherein the communicating to the first access point is performed without user input at the wireless device, and
• wherein the WLAN, WWAN, and WMAN are not mobile telephone networks.