Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for distributing configuration data to one or more mobile terminals. An embodiment of one method of the invention includes receiving from the host application a request from a client to transmit a configuration data value to a mobile terminal. The configuration data value can include a designation of a new precedence level for a mobile terminal corresponding to a new operating characteristic of the mobile terminal. The method can include the step of transmitting from the NMC a configuration data value including the new precedence level to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can include a mobile application defining a previous precedence level such that the mobile terminal loads the configuration data in response to the new precedence level different from the previous precedence level.