A process of billing for access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a
portable device is disclosed. A signal from the wireless hotspot is
detected and access to the wireless hotspot is requested. The portable
device awaits reply to the access request from the wireless hotspot and
supplies account information to an access providing entity. Next, the
portable device awaits a billing authorization from the access providing
entity and, thereafter, data is exchanged with the wireless hotspot by the
portable device when a billing authorized is received from the access
providing entity. The account information is used to keep track of charges
accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the
portable device.
