The present invention provides a system in which a user can login to a
World Wide Web server's (Web) application page and get help on the
features assigned to an instrument such as a telephone or a service such
as a voicemail system that is a configurable asset specifically assigned
to that user. The on-line help is preferably kept in text and/or
multimedia format on a server. The entity or that is displaying the help
information is preferably a different entity than the service provider
device that is providing the functionality or service to the asset. A
synchronization process occurs so that thew server providing the
Web-based help has a database of features assigned to the user as well as
other information about the user.