Wireless Internet Access whilst out-n-about

Do you need hundreds of accounts?

[dmorison]

Ok, i've not really looked into how you go about setting up your laptop (which happens to have built in 802.11b) for wireless Internet access whilst out and about, but it's something I'm about to get interested in.

Every day, I hear stories about how "Start-up X" is providing wireless Internet access at McDonalds and Starbucks, how BAA are offering wireless Internet access at Heathrow Airport, how BT are offering wireless Internet access at city centre hotspots. etc. etc. etc.

Today, I hear that "Start-up Y", in association with the Football League is to offer wireless Internet access at many football grounds around the UK.

So:

How does it all hang together?

There's hundreds of companies providing "hot spots", and presumably I need an account with each of them if I wish to use wireless Internet access in their respective service areas?

The activation of those accounts presumably involves my credit card at some stage?

Now what I don't want have to do of course is meddle about with my network settings, and have to pick / guess which providers coverage I am in, enter usernames and passwords etc - I just want to sit down with my coffee and start surfing.

So, do I register my MAC address with the various different service providers, so that when I sit down in McDonalds or the departure lounge at Terminal 1; my MAC address is simply picked up by the hotspot; authenticated without any amateur dramatics and i'm straight on the 'net?

Or what?

Thanks for any enlightenment - this is something that has been quietly "bugging" me!

[bcolflesh]

wardriving.com/doc/Wardriving-HOWTO.txt

[dragonlady7]

Dunno-- spent all last summer out-n'-about in NYC with a wireless-enabled laptop, and I simply signed on to a network if it was available. if it asked for a password, I scampered off to the next coffeeshop where i could get on for free!
No accounts needed.