Protocol interface device providing enhanced operating protocol selection features

A communications system includes data storage devices (16,18,20) each using at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols. At least one of the data storage devices (16,18,20) operates using multiple operating protocols. The system includes mobile wireless communications devices (11) for accessing the at least one data storage device (16,18,20), and each may use at least one of the plurality of operating protocols. The system further includes a protocol interface device (14). The protocol interface device (14) includes a front-end proxy module (30) for communicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices (11) using respective operating protocols. The protocol interface includes a protocol engine module (32) for communicating with the data storage devices (16,18,20) using respective operating protocols. The protocol engine module (32) also selects a desired operating protocol for communicating with the at least one data storage device (16,18,20) form the multiple operating protocols.