The present invention provides apparatus and methods for providing improved contact information to users of mobile stations such as, for example, cellular telephones and personal digital assistants with wireless telephony capability. In particular, the present invention displays the types of messages that a contact listed on a contact list of the mobile station can receive. In addition, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for updating this information. In one method for updating contact information, the mobile station contacts a database which stores information concerning what types of electronic messages that users of the wireless telecommunications network can receive; requests up-to-date information concerning at least one contact listed on the contact list; receives the up-to-date information, and then updates the information stored in the memory of the mobile station.