Editing Captive portal (section)

=== Require web browser ===
Captive portals often require the use of a web browser; users who first use an email client or other application that relies on the Internet may find the connection not working without explanation, and will then need to open a web browser to validate. This may be problematic for users who do not have any web browser installed on their [[operating system]]. It is however sometimes possible to use email and other facilities that do not rely on DNS (e.g. if the application specifies the connection IP address rather than the hostname). A similar problem can occur if the client uses [[AJAX]] or joins the network with pages already loaded into its web browser, causing [[undefined behavior]] (for example, corrupt messages appear) when such a page tries HTTP requests to its origin server. 

Similarly, as HTTPS connections cannot be redirected (at least not without triggering security warnings), a web browser that only attempts to access secure websites before being authorized by the captive portal will see those attempts fail without explanation (the usual symptom is that the intended website appears to be down or inaccessible).

Platforms that have [[Wi-Fi]] and a [[TCP/IP stack]] but do not have a web browser that supports [[HTTPS]] cannot use many captive portals. Such platforms include the [[Nintendo DS]] running a game that uses [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]. Non-browser authentication is possible using [[WISPr]], an [[XML]]-based authentication protocol for this purpose, or MAC-based authentication or authentications based on other protocols.

It is also possible for a platform vendor to enter into a service contract with the operator of a large number of captive portal hotspots to allow free or discounted access to the platform vendor's servers via the hotspot's [[Walled garden (media)|walled garden]]. For example, in 2005 Nintendo and [[Wayport, Inc.|Wayport]] partnered to provide free Wi-Fi access to Nintendo DS users at certain [[McDonald's]] restaurants.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Nintendo And Wayport Join Forces To Bring Free U.S. Wi-Fi Access To Nintendo DS Users
| url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-and-wayport-join-forces-to-bring-free-us-wi-fi-access-to-nintendo-ds-users
| date=2005-10-18
| access-date=2019-03-06
| archive-date=2019-05-04
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504093329/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-and-wayport-join-forces-to-bring-free-us-wi-fi-access-to-nintendo-ds-users
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Also, [[Voice over IP|VoIP]] and [[Session Initiation Protocol|SIP]] ports could be allowed to bypass the gateway to allow phones to make and receive calls.