A wireless device, comprising: an antenna; a wireless communication interface connected to said antenna and configured to support wireless communication across a wireless connection provided by said antenna; a memory for storing data; and a controller connected to said wireless communication interface and to said memory, and configured to support an application service and a network evaluation service; wherein said application service is configured to provide execution and management of one or more application programs accessible by said controller using application data stored in said memory; and wherein said network evaluation service is configured to support obtaining and providing status information by: polling an area for responsive wireless devices by sending out a beacon signal identifying the wireless device and providing connection information; determining whether to build a new list or update an existing list of the responsive wireless devices; receiving a signal from a second wireless device that identifies the second wireless device and provides connection information; specifying status information; sending a status query to each wireless device on the list of responsive wireless devices, wherein the status query comprises a request for a combination of the specified status information, the status information being related to the one or more application programs; receiving at least one status response comprising a specific combination of status information as a function of the requested combination of status information from at least the second wireless device; and building a status report based on said received at least one status response, wherein said wireless device is configured to receive status responses from one or more other devices that include availability information, such that the wireless device is configured to collect status responses for a predetermined period of time before proceeding with an operation. an antenna; a wireless communication interface connected to said antenna and configured to support wireless communication across a wireless connection provided by said antenna; a memory for storing data; and a controller connected to said wireless communication interface and to said memory, and configured to support an application service and a network evaluation service; wherein said application service is configured to provide execution and management of one or more application programs accessible by said controller using application data stored in said memory; and wherein said network evaluation service is configured to support obtaining and providing status information by: polling an area for responsive wireless devices by sending out a beacon signal identifying the wireless device and providing connection information; determining whether to build a new list or update an existing list of the responsive wireless devices; receiving a signal from a second wireless device that identifies the second wireless device and provides connection information; specifying status information; sending a status query to each wireless device on the list of responsive wireless devices, wherein the status query comprises a request for a combination of the specified status information, the status information being related to the one or more application programs; receiving at least one status response comprising a specific combination of status information as a function of the requested combination of status information from at least the second wireless device; and building a status report based on said received at least one status response, wherein said wireless device is configured to receive status responses from one or more other devices that include availability information, such that the wireless device is configured to collect status responses for a predetermined period of time before proceeding with an operation. polling an area for responsive wireless devices by sending out a beacon signal identifying the wireless device and providing connection information; determining whether to build a new list or update an existing list of the responsive wireless devices; receiving a signal from a second wireless device that identifies the second wireless device and provides connection information; specifying status information; sending a status query to each wireless device on the list of responsive wireless devices, wherein the status query comprises a request for a combination of the specified status information, the status information being related to the one or more application programs; receiving at least one status response comprising a specific combination of status information as a function of the requested combination of status information from at least the second wireless device; and building a status report based on said received at least one status response, wherein said wireless device is configured to receive status responses from one or more other devices that include availability information, such that the wireless device is configured to collect status responses for a predetermined period of time before proceeding with an operation.