Portable processing system with always on, always connected capability

A technique for providing a portable processing system with "always on, always connected" capability is provided. The portable processing system is equipped with two data communication devices, either or both of which may be implemented on a PC Card. The first communication device is for receiving data over a wireless link over a narrowband link. The second communication device is for both receiving and transmitting data over a communication link over a wider band link, i.e., at a data rate that is substantially higher than that of the first communication device. The first communication device is always on, such that the narrowband link is always established. The second communication device may be activated only when data is to be transferred to or from the portable processing system, such that the wider band link is established only when it is needed. In one mode of operation the first communication device is used primarily to receive messages indicating that data is available for downloading to the portable processing system. When such data is available, the second communication device is used to download the data.