A message processing system, such as an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) gateway, sends a first message having a specific type of data content to a wireless communications device within a wireless communications network. In response to being unable to process the specific type of data content, the wireless communications device sends an error message to the message processing system. In response to receipt of the specific error message, the message processing system automatically triggers a transmission of a firmware upgrade notification message (e.g., a Wireless Application Protocol PUSH message) to the wireless communications device, which triggers the wireless communications device to request a firmware upgrade, from an external server (e.g., a Firmware Over The Air server), that enables the wireless communications device to become capable of processing the specific type of data content.
