According to an approach for configuring wireless devices, a wireless device determines whether it is currently configured to use secure wireless communications when communicating with other wireless devices. If not, then the wireless device configures one or more wireless security parameters so that the wireless device will use a secure wireless communications protocol to communicate with other wireless devices. The wireless device may also generate one or more encryption keys for use with the secure wireless communications protocol. The wireless device provides the one or more wireless security parameters and the one or more encryption keys to a user. The wireless device may print a page specifying the one or more wireless security parameters and the one or more encryption keys or generate and send to the user an electronic message, email or facsimile containing the one or more wireless security parameters and the one or more encryption keys.

A method for determining the security level associated with transmissions in a telecommunications network includes means for alerting parties of the security status of the transmission. When a route interconnecting the parties includes an insecure link, an alert is provided so that the parties are aware of the insecure nature of the call before communications begin. Alternatively, the parties may elect to decline or alter content of the communications to preserve integrity.

In a telecommunications device having a memory, a user input device, and a modem for connection to an external network, each controlled by a processor, a dialing apparatus is provided for connection to the external network. The dialing apparatus includes a dialer program operating in the telecommunications device for prioritizing a plurality of different dialing strings, highest to lowest, each associated with the external network for connection of the telecommunications device to the external network based on the location of the telecommunications device.

A method for accessing private data/services from a mobile station over a public network is described including: composing a text-based request message on the mobile station, sending the request message to a private server offering access to private data/services, and checking the authenticity of the user based on the request message received by the server. If user authenticity is confirmed, a text-based response message is composed and sent to the mobile station. The request message includes a user-unique identifier received by the private server with an appended user mobile station number. Authenticity checking (by the private server) includes checking whether (1) the user-unique identifier is stored in a private directory database, and (2) the appended user mobile station number matches the number allocated to the user-unique identifier stored in the private directory database. The interaction is limited to the exchange of pairs of text-based request message(s) and response(s).

A system and method for an extendable software interface includes a software architecture for use in a mobile device having a processor and a memory device. The software architecture comprises a plurality of application programs stored in the memory device and executed by the processor, and at least one controller module for interfacing the plurality of application program with a one of a plurality of data objects stored in the memory device in the form of a data model. Each controller module utilizes one or more generic interfaces with the plurality of application programs, and also utilizes a specific interface with the data model.