Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for providing context-aware services in pervasive computing environments. Specifically it targets environments where a plurality of intermittently connected portable computing devices interact with each other and possibly a plurality of embedded computing devices, that can be fixed in a certain environment. Said portable computing devices communicate with each other via some forms of proximity wireless communications when getting within mutual communication range. Said embedded devices can communicate with said portable devices via a wireless communication interface when getting within mutual communication range. The method proposed is particularly suited for transparent dissemination (i.e., requiring no explicit user intervention) of contextual information, in the form of data which relates to the context the user is in.