I see password-protected wifi networks all of the time when I search for a loose connection, and it’s usually just because I need to check something briefly.
It seems like someone would make a software application that allows any given owner of a wifi network to sell access to random passers by at a rate of their choosing; the person enters their credit card # and the money goes right to your paypal account based on what they use. Whether it’s someone in another apartment in your building or something driving by on the street, etc.
This year when we went up to NAU for band camp we stopped at a McDonalds, my laptop had a wifi card so I though “what the hell” opened it, and to connect to the internet there was a flat fee for an hour or two, I had to enter credit card info etc and they charged me. So yes, software as you’re mentioning exists.
It does exist. FON is a community network of wireless spots. If you join the community, you have access to member wireless nodes that might be nearby. You can opt to offer your own wireless for free or for pay. If you share, you get time on wireless spots for free. If you opt to charge, then you have to pay when you’re on someone else’s wireless. Reciprocity at work. There might be other organizations with the same kind of model, but that’s the one I’ve heard of.
There are also for-pay networks. I’ve seen a few pop up when I’m in airports. The problem is that many of them are not all that widespread as yet, so you don’t get many benefits from joining a long-term plan vs. paying for a limited pass.
Something you should consider before you launch your business plan to become rich and famous from renting out your internet connection.
Businesses that offer wifi access are just that–businesses, and they are paying a much higher rate for their internet connection than you as a home user.
If you were to make money by renting time-shares on your home connection, you would almost certainly be in violation of the terms of service of your ISP.
Some guys have reprogrammed common wireless routers to do a similar thing as the Fon network - the access point can allow a certain amount of traffic unsecured, and the routers establish a VPN tunnel from the AP router to the users home router. This ensures that any user traffic is tracked back to the users router, protecting the host. This process also supplies appropriate authentication for the shared co-operative network.
The actual router software has been developed and tested, but the concept is still a bit of a proposal at present.