Abstract: A method of providing a service to a network device from a group of network devices, some but not all of the network devices being subscribed to the service, the method includes determining which network devices of the group are not subscribed to the service in response to a service request from one of the network devices of the group; querying at least the network devices of the group that are subscribed to the service for permission to at least temporarily share the service with an unsubscribed network device; and at least temporarily providing the service to at least some of the unsubscribed network devices in response to a positive response to the query from at least one of the subscribed network devices. A network, network device and network server that can implement various aspects of this method are also disclosed.