Abstract: A method of providing access to a communications system via a plurality of wireless hotspot access points, comprising: storing plural sets of user identification data relating to one or more wireless hotspot access points via which the user has authorization to access the communications system; using a first set of user identification data to access the communications system via a first wireless hotspot access point; and without user intervention, altering access to said communications system from being via said first hotspot access point to being via a second wireless hotspot access point, by: identifying said second wireless hotspot access point; and selecting, on the basis of said identification, a second set of user identification data, different to said first set of identification data, and using said second set of user identification data to access the communication system via said second wireless hotspot access point.

Abstract: The invention provides method of, apparatus capable of, and computer software for, providing a user with access to a communications system including a plurality of wireless access points, said method comprising providing set of functions for use on a user terminal, said functions including functions for: storing a plurality of sets of user identification data, said user identification data relating to one or more wireless access points via which the user has authorisation to access the communications system; providing a directory of wireless access points in said communications system, said directory including wireless access point identification data; using said directory to identify a wireless access point; and using one of said plurality of sets of user identification data to access the communications system via an identified wireless access point.

Abstract: In one arrangement, a method of operating a mobile user terminal in a communications system includes monitoring received broadcast signals and deriving first identification data of fixed wireless nodes from the received broadcast signals. The method includes using data derived from a stored database in combination with the derived first identification data in order to provide a service to a user of a mobile user terminal. The method includes deriving update data from at least the derived first identification data and transmitting the derived update data to a database administration node in order to allow the stored database of fixed wireless nodes to be updated.