A method (200) and an apparatus (300) in a wireless portable communication device (102) for maintaining appropriate authentication credentials required for a common data application in a current service network are provided. A method (400) in a wireless communication network (106) for providing current authentication credentials required for the common data application accessible through the wireless communication network (106) is also provided. The wireless portable communication device (102) has default authentication credentials required for the common data application in a default service network (106), receives (204) a data session configuration file including authentication credentials based upon a predetermined condition, prioritizes (206) between the default authentication credentials and the received authentication credentials, and uses (208) the authentication credentials having higher priority for the common data application in the current service network (110). The wireless communication network (106) maintains (404) the current authentication credentials indicative of currently required authentication credentials for the common data application, detects (406) a predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file, and transmits (408) the data session configuration file having the current authentication credentials. Upon receiving (410), the wireless communication network (106) allows (412) proper access to the common data application upon receiving the current authentication credentials.