A disclosed, service management system (50) communicates via wide area network (99) with gateway devices (10), located at respective user premises. The service management system (50) remotely manages delivery of application services by the gateway device(s) (1 On), e.g. by selectively activating or deactivating service logic modules in the gateway devices. The service management system (50) also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices (10) and among associated endpoint devices (30). An exemplary service management system (50) includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices. A service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to authenticated gateway devices.