A system and method for providing software updates to a plurality of mobile devices includes a central update server and update software resident on each mobile device. The update server includes a database of software program identifiers and identifiers for corresponding updates, a subset of which may not be compatible with each mobile device. The mobile device initiates the update process by preparing a request in accordance with configuration information and security/privacy settings, and communicating the request to the update server to retrieve corresponding update information. Due to security/privacy settings, the request may be insufficient for the update server to identify relevant software updates. The mobile device selects at least one of the software updates, and communicates with the update server to download the selected updates. The retrieved update information may also include a referral to another update server, and the mobile device will repeat the update process with the referral server.