If I connect to a WLAN network with my mobile...

[robino]

does it cost me anything? While fiddling with phone I managed to connect to my home broadband connection (at least I think I did - it's a miracle I could remember my WEP Key). Does it cost me anything (I don't have internet access web n walk type malarkey on my contract) or does my mobile act like a little computer on my home connection? See, started well talking about WLAN and WEP but really don't have a clue what I'm talking about!

no, it goes through your home connection, no different to connecting from a computer or laptop.
You should have a firewall on your network and it should only allow recognised MAC addresses (i.e. hardwar) through ideally

Stealth is right, wont cost you anything, though quite what you want to do in your house on a mobile I am not sure..

though saying that my DW is always on her Ipod touch in bed on the internet

I MN in bed sometimes

I also MN in bed - and I often have It on my iPhone while I'm watching a DVD on the laptop. And it can be useful in families where you have fewer computers than people.

Thank you. I don't really want to do anything on my mobile at home - just wanted to know if I could!

Regardless of that it's general good practice to lock your firewall down to only allow connections from certain MAC addresses.

StealthPolarBear, I don't know where you got the idea that MAC address 'protection' was a good idea. If anyone is going to go to the trouble to crack your WEP (which, with the right hardware and software, can be done very quickly), they are going to spoof a permitted MAC. And what has that got to do with a firewall?

For proper wireless security, you need to use WPA, or ideally WPA2. Most modern wireless routers can be configured to use this, although not everything you might want to connect (notably Nintendo DSs) can.

But for the average domestic user, all this is irrelevent, so sorry robino for hijacking your thread. Have fun using your internet phone for free!