Connection of mobile devices to heterogenous networks

An improved apparatus for connecting a mobile end system to a communications network includes a mobile end system with storage that is assigned a first unique identity code. An interface with a first transmitter is assigned a second unique identity code and is linked to the mobile end system via a first communications channel. A data switch with a second transmitter is assigned a third unique identity code, and is linked to the interface via a second communications channel. The data switch is also linked to the communications network via a third communications channel. The mobile end system transmits at least the first unique identity code to the interface, which transmits a least the first and second unique identity codes to the data switch, which in turn transmits at least the first, second and third unique identity codes to the communications network. A method of communicating data packets bidirectionally between two mobile end systems or between a mobile end system and a fixed end system through a communications network includes the steps of assigning unique identity codes to each mobile end system and to an interface device and a data witch for each mobile end system, setting up communication channels between the end systems, identifying the routing scheme to be used for the packet transmission, and establishing bidirectional communications between the end systems.