Wireless access device

1. An apparatus comprising:

A mobile communication device having a first transceiver configured to communicate through a cellular network with a server associated with a service provider to receive and store in a memory a key from the service provider, the key having an identification tag identifying the service provider and validity information relating to a service provided by said service provider; said mobile communications device further having a processor and a second transceiver, said processor configured to cause the mobile communications device to receive and transmit short range, low power, high frequency signals through the second transceiver;

an access device having a transceiver for communicating with the mobile communications device through the second transceiver, wherein the access device isconfigured to receive said key and said validity information, wherein the access device is configured to determine, without any connection to the service provider whether or not the key and the validity information are valid and if said key and validity information are valid, then the access device is configured to provide access to the service.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is configured to receive additional information relating to said service.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is configured to receive additional information relating to said service and make said additional information available to a user of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to display additional information relating to said service.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker configured to provide additional information relating to said service audibly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said second transceiver is configured to operate using high frequency signals in the giga Hertz range.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said second transceiver is configured to operate using infrared signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said access device provides access to one or more of the following:

hotel room; theatre; cinema; hire car; ski lift; public transport; or office.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least part of said key and/or said validity information are at least partly encrypted.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least part of said key and/or said validity information are at least partly encrypted, and wherein at least part of said key is not decryptable by said apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is configured to provide to said access device information identifying a user of said apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said validity information comprises time related information.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , the mobile communications device is configured to store more than one key at the same time.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said access device is configured to provide an identifier associated with the service provider, and said mobile communications device is configured to provide the key, from the more than one stored keys, that matches said identifier to said access device.

15. A method comprising:

establishing a communication link between a first transceiver of a mobile communication device and a server associated with a service provider ;

receiving a key from the service provider, the key having an identification tag identifying the service provider and validity information related to a service provided by the service provider;

establishing a short range, low power, high frequency signal communication link between a second transceiver of the mobile communication device and an access device;

transmitting said key and said validity information to the access device;

receiving said key and said validity information at the access device and processing said key and said validity information to determine, without any connection to the service provider whether or not the key and the validity information are valid; and

wherein, if said key and validity information are valid, then causing the access device to provide access to the service.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said validity information comprises time related information.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving additional information relating to said service and making said additional information available to a user.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving identification information from the access device; and

providing a key associated with the received identification information to said access device.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving identification information from the access device; and

providing a key having an identifier identifying a service provider associated with the received identification information to said access device.

20. The method of claim 15 , comprising providing access to one or more of a hotel room; theatre; cinema; hire car; ski lift; public transport; or office if said key and said validity information are valid.

21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising at least partly encrypting at least part of said key and/or said validity information.

22. The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing user information to said access device.

23. A communication device for accessing via an access device a service provided by a service provider, the communication device comprising:

a first transceiver for establishing a connection with a communication network, a second transceiver for establishing a connection with the access device, wherein said first and second transceivers operate at different frequencies;

a memory for storing a key having an identification tag identifying the service provider which is received at the first transceiver from the service provider via the communication network; and

a processor for providing said key via the second transceiver to the access device in response to a request from the access device identifying the service provider,

wherein said access device determines, without any connection to the service provider, whether the key is valid, and wherein, if said key is determined by the access device to be valid, access is provided to said service.

24. A user device arranged to:

receive from a service provider, via a first communication link, at least one key having an identification tag identifying the service provider and validity information relating to a service provided by said service provider.

establish a second communication link with an access device, said second communication link arranged to provide said validity information and all keys having the identification tag identifying the service provider to said access device in response to a request from the access device identifying the service provider,

wherein said access device identifies a matching key from the provided keys, and said matching key and said validity information allow said access device to determine, without any connection with the service provider. whether or not to provide access, wherein if said key and said validity information are determined by the access device to be valid access is provided, and wherein said first and second communication links operate at different frequencies.

25. The communication device of claim 23 , wherein the second transceiver is configured to operate as a wireless communication link.

26. The communication device of claim 23 , wherein the first and second transceivers are configured to operate at different frequencies.