A method for setting up a local service session in a short-range wireless communication network, the local service session enabling a wireless communication device to utilize one or more services provided by another wireless communications device through wireless short-range communication when in proximity to one or more wireless communications devices (108,110), comprising: sending, by the wireless communications device, through a long-range wireless portion, a request for preconfiguration information over a long-range network to a preconfiguration server, the preconfiguration information enabling establishment of the local service session with one or more wireless communications devices (108,110) providing the one or more services; receiving, by the wireless communications device, through the long-range wireless portion, from the preconfiguration server, the requested preconfiguration information, wherein the requested preconfiguration information includes one or more device addresses corresponding to the one or more wireless communications devices (108, 110) providing the one or more services and associated security keys for performing an authentication process to effect link encryption of a short-range wireless communication connection when in proximity to any of the one or more wireless communications devices providing the one or more services; performing, by the wireless communications device, through a short-range wireless portion, an authentication process for effecting link encryption of a short-range wireless communication connection using the received preconfiguration information when in proximity to any one of the one or more wireless communications devices (108,110) providing the one or more services; and establishing, by the wireless communications device, through the short-range wireless portion, the local service session with the one or more proximate wireless communications device providing the one or more services after the authentication process effects the link encryption of the short-range wireless communications connection with the proximate wireless communications device, thereby to enable the wireless communications device to utilize one or more services provided by the proximate wireless communications device through wireless short-range communication. sending, by the wireless communications device, through a long-range wireless portion, a request for preconfiguration information over a long-range network to a preconfiguration server, the preconfiguration information enabling establishment of the local service session with one or more wireless communications devices (108,110) providing the one or more services; receiving, by the wireless communications device, through the long-range wireless portion, from the preconfiguration server, the requested preconfiguration information, wherein the requested preconfiguration information includes one or more device addresses corresponding to the one or more wireless communications devices (108, 110) providing the one or more services and associated security keys for performing an authentication process to effect link encryption of a short-range wireless communication connection when in proximity to any of the one or more wireless communications devices providing the one or more services; performing, by the wireless communications device, through a short-range wireless portion, an authentication process for effecting link encryption of a short-range wireless communication connection using the received preconfiguration information when in proximity to any one of the one or more wireless communications devices (108,110) providing the one or more services; and establishing, by the wireless communications device, through the short-range wireless portion, the local service session with the one or more proximate wireless communications device providing the one or more services after the authentication process effects the link encryption of the short-range wireless communications connection with the proximate wireless communications device, thereby to enable the wireless communications device to utilize one or more services provided by the proximate wireless communications device through wireless short-range communication.