A system and method of launching an application from a button of a browser is disclosed, and includes providing one or more buttons, used with a downloadable toolbar for an Internet browser, which are configured to launch an external application. The method comprises associating the application to be launched with an identification code, pre-configuring the client with the identification code and information necessary to launch the application, and transmitting a plurality of button characteristics which define button behavior. In the case of launching an external application, button characteristics comprise at least the application identification code.