Public Access BlackSpots?

Source: UnStrung

There's a big problem with connecting public wireless LAN access points to GSM/GPRS cellular networks, according to SIM card vendor SchulmbergerSema. 802.11b hotspots provide hackers with an easy way to grab user information from the wide-area network itself, the company tells Unstrung.
The heart of the problem is that when the GSM standard was being defined back in the late 80s, no one imagined that a hacker could set up his own wireless network to gain access to an operator's network and the user data therein. Therefore, GSM networks only authenticate the details held on the SIM card in a user's device before starting a session on the network. The user's device doesn't check the credentials of the network it is attempting to access.

This was fine before the advent of wireless LAN. But now for a minimal outlay anyone can own a wireless network.