Identifying remote, external devices and facilitating communication therewith

A method for enabling a portable electronic device, such as a personal data assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, or notebook computer, to identify remote, external devices with which communication by at least one wireless transmission protocol over which the portable electronic device is capable of communicating may be established. The method includes selecting a type of wireless transmission protocol to be used, receiving signals from devices that are remote from the portable electronic device, and, based upon such signals identifying the remote, external devices that can communicate by the at least one wireless transmission protocol. A list of these devices may then be generated. One of the devices may be automatically selected or selected by the user of the portable electronic device from such a list.