A proxy software service determines all I/O devices independent of subnet location, on a network; provides a network interface on a wireless subnet that can receive and respond to requests; responds to such requests for each I/O device so identified so that the I/O device is available to the wireless device user for device selection; transfers and translates, if necessary, the IPP stream received from the wireless device to the network address of the I/O device so that the I/O device simulates a compliant I/O device; and transfers and translates, if necessary, all necessary status and command messages from the present protocol to the protocol supported by a legacy I/O device.