Methods and devices for application aware scheduling in a wireless communication network include a Radio Resource Control, RRC, Connection Reconfiguration message that includes an announcement message indicating a Network Type and Software Version Number, N-TSVN, for an extended protocol. The RRC Connection Reconfiguration message is transmitted from the network node to a user equipment, UE. The UE may then determine that a UE Software Version Number, UE-SVN, is compatible with the N-TSVN received in the announcement message. The UE may then transmit, and the network may receive, an initial message including the UE-SVN.