A portable telecommunication apparatus (200) has a user interface (250), a programmable controller (210), a memory (220, 230) coupled to the controller, and an information access program (240), such as a WAP browser, which is stored in the memory and is executable by the controller. The information access program provides access for a user to a global information network, such as Internet, through the user interface and a first wireless communication link. The apparatus also has an external device interface (260, 262, 264) for connecting an external device to the portable telecommunication apparatus over a second communication link. The information access program (240) allows the user to control the external device through the user interface (250), the external device interface (260, 262, 264) and the second communication link.