Abstract: A wireless device with a capacity for high bandwidth connectivity adapted to provide access to the Internet or other WAN for a single user or multiple concurrent users. The wireless access device acts as a network point of presence to provide access to a number of different devices. Authorization is performed and billing measures are established in real time. Billing credits may be provided to an account associated with the user of the wireless access device based upon selected metrics (for example, duration of the connection or amount of data passed). In certain implementations, devices that are previously unknown to the wireless access device and that have not received a wireless access device-specific configuration can be provided network access. Thus, instead of a hard-wired point of presence to the Internet, a mobile, ad hoc point of presence is established through the wireless access device.