1. In a communications system providing voice and data services in a plurality of geographically diverse sites, wherein a plurality of localized devices provide portions of voice and data services at each site, a method for managing localized devices comprised of the steps of: providing a server system to coordinate management activities for a plurality of localized devices; providing a protectable communications protocol for the communications between the console system and the plurality of localized devices; wherein the console system communicates with an individual system of the plurality of localized systems via the protectable communications protocol to provide software distribution instructions to the individual system; wherein the software distribution instructions provide the individual system with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software distribution data.