Abstract: Disclosed are combinations of authentication, session management and web scraping implemented on a mobile device to support a rich mobile application using secure connections to existing websites to access data sources. The mobile application presents information in logical units rather than screen by screen, and fetches data in the background for low perceived delay. The mobile application provides consistent navigation using the 12-key or QWERTY keypad. The mobile application maintains a history of screens, allowing the user to easily return to a prior screen. A web server allows phrases to be configured on-line by an individual user and downloaded to that user's mobile device to simplify data entry on the mobile device. A method of embedding user profile information in a signed application executable file that allows applications to be pre-configured per user. A licensing mechanism that supports multiple distribution channels.