Methods and apparatuses for programming user-defined information into electronic devices

1. A method for allowing a wireless communication device to obtain a user customized data file located on a remote computer having a plurality of user customized data files, the method comprising:

allowing the wireless communication device to contact the remote computer;

allowing the wireless communication device to select one or more of the user customized data files;

determining a format of the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device; and

downloading the selected one or more user customized data files to the wireless communication device for subsequent use by a user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining at least one format compatible with the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising comparing the at least one format compatible with the wireless communication device with the format of the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device to determine whether the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device are compatible with the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising converting the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device to the at least one format compatible with the wireless communication device if the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device are not compatible with the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein converting the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device includes converting from HTML format to WML format.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to review the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device prior to downloading to the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to modify the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 , accomplished at least in part, using a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) compliant system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is periodically performed by the wireless device based on preferences specified in software.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more user customized data files include Internet access information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more user customized data files include text files.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more user customized data files include HTML files or WML files.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more user customized data files include word processing or spreadsheet files.

14. A method for allowing a wireless communication device to obtain a user customized data file located on a remote computer having a plurality of user customized data files, the method comprising:

allowing the wireless communication device to contact the remote computer;

allowing the wireless communication device to select one or more of the user customized data files;

determining a format of the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device; and

periodically downloading the selected one or more user customized data files to the wireless communication device for subsequent use by a user based on preferences specified in software.

15. The method of claim 4 wherein converting the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device includes converting the one or more user customized data files selected to a wireless device format suitable for use with the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein converting the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device includes converting from HTML format to WML format.

17. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of sequences of instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to allow a wireless communication device to obtain a user customized data file located on a remote computer having a plurality of user customized data files, the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprising instructions which:

allow the wireless communication device to contact the remote computer;

allow the wireless communication device to select one or more of the user customized data files;

determine a format of the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device; and

download the selected one or more user customized data files to the wireless communication device for subsequent use by a user.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to determine at least one format compatible with the wireless communication device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to compare the at least one format compatible with the wireless communication device with the format of the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device to determine whether the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device are compatible with the wireless communication device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to convert the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device to the at least one format compatible with the wireless communication device if the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device are not compatible with the wireless communication device.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to convert the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device from HTML format to WML format.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to allow the user to review the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device prior to downloading to the wireless communication device.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to provide the user with an opportunity to modify the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices including the wireless communication device to operate in compliance with a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

25. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices including the wireless communication device to periodically execute the instructions of claim 17 based on preferences specified in software.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the one or more user customized data files include Internet access information.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the one or more user customized 10 data files include text files.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the one or more user customized data files include HTML files or WML files.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the one or more user customized data files include word processing or spreadsheet files.

30. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of sequences of instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to allow a wireless communication device to obtain a user customized data file located on a remote computer having a plurality of user customized data files, the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprising instructions which:

allow the wireless communication device to contact the remote computer;

allow the wireless communication device to select one or more of the user customized data files;

determine a format of the one or more user customized data files selected with the wireless communication device; and

periodically download the selected one or more user customized data files to the wireless communication device for subsequent use by a user based on preferences specified in software.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to convert the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device to a wireless device format suitable for use with the wireless communication device.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein the plurality of sequences of instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors cause one or more electronic devices to convert the one or more user customized data files selected by the wireless communication device from HTML format to WML format.