Multi-mode wireless communication devices capable of wLAN and WAN wireless network communication modes can be configured to communicate for backend services (e.g. Web Services, database, events) via a network gateway to operate in response to available modes. For example, for some activities (e.g. notification messages), the devices may be configured to communication in any available mode (WAN or wLAN) while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), the devices may be restricted to one mode only (e.g. wLAN). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) that may used for a particular message. A programming tool and method are described for configuring such component applications to specify mode delivery properties and to be responsive to mode information generated by a runtime environment generating, executing and supporting the component applications.