A system for permitting new, or enhanced, functionality to be transferred to an adaptable device. In a preferred embodiment, the permitted functionality is determined according to an accounting method associated with a user's account. This approach allows a user to contract for specific services, functionality, etc. regardless of changes over time such as changes to data formats, communication protocols, external devices or infrastructure, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the functionality is stored on a ubiquitous communications network such as the Internet. Functionality is transferred to different devices as digital information over the network. This allows hardware functionality to be licensed in many forms. For example, site licenses can be obtained for companies; hardware "trialware" can be provided to allow limited functionality for a limited time for lower-cost payments, etc.