Abstract: A wireless terminal is described whose software are more easily upgradable than many in the prior art. Furthermore, the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement in which a user can easily: (1) upgrade the software in a wireless terminal, (2) change the parameters affecting the operation of the wireless terminal, (3) enable and disable features and options on the wireless terminal, (4) install software modules onto the wireless terminal and remove them, (5) reconfigure the reconfigurable hardware on the wireless terminal, (6) extract performance data from the wireless terminal for analysis and testing of the wireless terminal, and (7) load contact information (e.g., names and associated telephone numbers, etc.) onto the wireless terminal. Furthermore, the user can easily do any of these functions in the field, himself or herself, without having to visit, or send the wireless terminal to, an authorized service facility.