An access terminal having user applications identified by product keys used to determine a QoS level to be granted to invoked user applications for the establishment of connections by an access network. The access terminal invokes the user applications, identifies the product key of the invoked user applications and determines a quality of service (QoS) level to which the invoked user applications are to be granted. The user applications may be formed into preferred and non-preferred categories with preferred user applications generally having a higher QoS than the non-preferred user applications. Access network connections using a high QoS are established from the preferred user applications to preferred servers of the access network. Connections from the non-preferred user applications are extended, using a lower QoS, by the access network to servers of a public data network.