Information services may be provided to a user of a personal digital assistant (PDA) via an infra red wireless communication port. The PDA recruits communication with a peer, such as a beacon, via this link, and the PDA and peer exchange messages containing the URLs of their proxies within the Internet. The proxies contact each other and negotiate, via the exchange of XML documents, parameters governing exchange of messages via the infra red link, such parameters being related inter alia to technical aspects of communication (e.g. file size, software compatibility etc.), encryption (e.g. public key information), and policy, which determines what the IR wireless link may be employed for, such as what content is sought. Negotiation between proxies is relatively rapid due to the higher bandwidth of the link between them in comparison to the IR link.