A proactive browser system configured to implement stateful frame navigation using content specific icons, background frame maintenance, and asynchronous frame submissions. The proactive browser system includes three components: user-side proactive application terminals (PAT), network-resident proactivity enablement servers (PES), and server-side proactive wireless web-based application servers. The PAT resides on user terminals and functions as an enhanced browser that accommodates proactive application services. The PES resides in the wireless network between the proactive application servers and the user terminals, and implements proactivity support services including queuing of proactive application submissions, presence detection of proactive application terminals, and routing of proactive application submissions from proactive application servers to the proactive application terminals. The proactive application servers are web-based application servers configured to provide proactive application services to take advantage of the enhanced capabilities enabled by the PAT and PES components.