The invention provides an authentication, authorization and accounting
(AAA) a system and method for a plurality of wireless local area networks
(WLANs) operated by a plurality of WLAN operators comprising a mobile
communications device connecting to a terminal comprising an Internet
access application program for accessing the Internet, a personal
identification number (PIN) application program, and a unique identifier
application program. An Internet access session is requested from the
mobile device by activating the Internet access application program in
the terminal. Entry of a PIN is requested by activating the PIN
application program in the terminal, wherein the PIN is authenticated. If
the PIN is authenticated, a unique identifier is retrieved from the
mobile device by activating the unique identifier application program in
the terminal wherein the unique identifier is accepted by all of the
plurality of WLANs operated by the WLAN operators, wherein the unique
identifier is sent to an authentication server for WLAN authentication.
If the authentication server authenticates the unique identifier, the
authentication server instructs an access server that the unique
identifier has been authenticated wherein the access server instructs an
accounting server to begin access fee calculation. If the access server
determines that the Internet access session has ended, the access fee
calculation is ended at the accounting server and a total fee is
calculated from the ended access fee calculation.