>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I understand that there are entities (e.g. cell data provider) who sell VPN account(s) to consumers. I am trying to understand how a consumer would use a VPN. For example, can a consumer use a VPN to connect to his/her online bank account? in order to make the connection more secure? Or the VPN has other purposes for a consumer (I am talking about a person, not a company).
>>
>>Can you provide a link to an example of what you're talking about?
>>
>>I imagine the providers would have materials explaining the benefits of using their services.
>
>A network is a contract between networked boxes. I don't see how I'd have such a contract with a box in a bank (or one hosting bank's service) without first getting them to accept it. I may imagine that one arranges such a deal to share stuff among house boxes, or a small distributed office, but then each of the participants would have to log into that same VPN after loading the VPN client. I don't see how that would be feasible with an outside service.

[did not think through totally, more a fast gut hint]
how about cases where basic endpoint is not cell phone, but some kind of open WLAN where you are uncertain about security setup? those are prone to man-in-the-middle attacks even if local provider (hotel owner) is honest. If hotel owner is dishonest, chances are you are often hosed ;-)

Now if I access my cell provider via dishonest local provider via VPN established by encrypted protocols I might get security of my cell provider and speed of WLAN I currently use.

/UPD: I see Al has already touched more bases a few posts down but sent earlier...