The present disclosure is directed generally to a method and system to handle downloads of digital data files to portable computing devices. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a first system access point responsive to a first wireless access point at a first location; a second system access point responsive to a second wireless access point at a second location; and a central facility. The central facility includes a computer having a user sign-on module to permit wireless download access to digital data files by a portable device within communication range of at least one of the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point. The central facility includes a digital data file download status memory, the status memory including an indication of download status and including an indication of the portion of a requested digital data file that has been downloaded. In a particular embodiment, the method includes starting a download of digital data from a server to a portable computing device, the portable computing device in remote communication with the server via a wireless communication channel. The method further includes determining that the download is interrupted prior to completion of the download digital data and storing data associated with a user of the portable computing device and data associated with the download of digital data in a status registry memory.