A network supporting user-initiated management of updatable mobile
electronic devices such as, for example, cellular phones, personal
digital assistants, pagers, personal computers, and the like, permits a
user to employ a personal computer (PC) or other device to browse
information web portal in order to determine whether an update of
firmware, software, and/or configuration information in the mobile
electronic device is appropriate. If the user determines that an update
is appropriate, or if a content server or a device management (DM) server
determines that an update is appropriate, the user may schedule a
download of one or more update packages. The update packages may comprise
executable instructions for converting a first firmware/software version
to a second firmware/software version, and may have associated
multipurpose internet mail extension (mime) types. An update may be
immediately executed, or an update may be scheduled and performed at a
later time according to the user-selected schedule.