A software program in a mobile phone periodically checks the current network connection parameters and compares them to the minimum data throughput requirements of all applications loaded on the mobile phone. If the current parameters fall short of the required parameters for a given application, the mobile phone will shade that application out on the display indicating that the application will not execute at the moment. This saves the user from the frustration experienced in actually launching the application and waiting for the application to fail. If the current parameters meet or exceed the required parameters for a given application, the mobile phone will display that application normally indicating that the application can execute at the moment. If the mobile phone has a color display, the applications that cannot currently execute can be colored differently than applications that can currently execute.