Abstract: A system includes a central program store location having a memory storing a plurality of application programs and a plurality of identifiers. Each of at least some of the identifiers are associated with at least one of the programs. A communication network, such as the Internet, connects the program store location and the host system. A communication channel connects the host system and a target system. A loader routine is adapted to execute at the host system, communicate with the program store location through the Internet, communicate with the target system through the communication channel and receive an identifier as a received identifier. The loader routine employs the identifiers from the program store location and the received identifier to select one program for download from the program store location to the host system. The loader routine then downloads the selected program from the host system to the target system.

Abstract: A system selects an application program for download. The system includes a host system, such as a personal computer, having a disk sub-system storing a plurality of application programs. The disk sub-system includes a file storing a plurality of identifiers, with each of at least some of the identifiers being associated with one or more of the application programs. A target system, such as a wireless handheld electronic device, includes a hardware identifier and a vendor identifier. A communications channel connects the host system and the target system. An application loader routine executes at the host system, communicates with the target system through the communications channel, requests the hardware and vendor identifiers as a received identifier from the target system over the communication channel, and employs the identifiers and the received identifier to select one of the application programs for download from the host system to the target system.