US Patent 7505756 Dynamic online subscription for wireless wide-area networks

Methods and systems are provided for dynamically subscribing for access to a wireless wide-area network via an online process. Subscription information and user credentials are digitally transmitted by a network carrier to a networking device and is stored locally by the device in a SmartCard, other portable medium, or on the device's hard drive. The locally stored credentials and information may subsequently be updated wirelessly. No human interaction is required to subscribe, and access may be limited by a variety of criteria. A subscription may be used to access networks operated by multiple network carriers.