diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cfbf2dee0..e7751b67f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 * Updated copyright notices ([#467](https://github.com/finos/FDC3/pull/467))
 * Adjusted wording in API spec and documentation to acknowledge the possibility of methods of intent resolution other than a resolver UI ([#461](https://github.com/finos/FDC3/pull/461))
 * Moved the Icon type definition into the Types documentation page for consistency with other types. ([#493](https://github.com/finos/FDC3/pull/493)
+* All DesktopAgent and Channel API functions are now async for consistency, changing the return type of the `broadcast`, `addIntentListener`, `addContextListener` and `getInfo` functions ([#516](https://github.com/finos/FDC3/pull/516))
 
 ### Deprecated
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/docs/api/overview.md b/docs/api/overview.md
index 11d302f1d..043421b6b 100644
--- a/docs/api/overview.md
+++ b/docs/api/overview.md
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ import { fdc3Ready, addIntentListener } from '@finos/fdc3'
 
 await fdc3Ready();
 
-const listener = addIntentListener('ViewAnalysis', instrument => {
+const listener = await addIntentListener('ViewAnalysis', instrument => {
   // handle intent
 })
 ```
diff --git a/docs/api/ref/Channel.md b/docs/api/ref/Channel.md
index 71717405f..5de6cb9ed 100644
--- a/docs/api/ref/Channel.md
+++ b/docs/api/ref/Channel.md
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ interface Channel {
   displayMetadata?: DisplayMetadata;
 
   // methods
-  broadcast(context: Context): void;
+  broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void>;
   getCurrentContext(contextType?: string): Promise<Context|null>;
-  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
   /**
    * @deprecated Use `addContextListener(null, handler)` instead of `addContextListener(handler)`
    */
-  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ DisplayMetadata can be used to provide display hints for channels intended to be
 
 ### `addContextListener`
 ```ts
-public addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+public addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 ```
 Adds a listener for incoming contexts of the specified _context type_ whenever a broadcast happens on this channel.
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Adds a listener for incoming contexts of the specified _context type_ whenever a
 /**
  * @deprecated Use `addContextListener(null, handler)` instead of `addContextListener(handler)`
  */
-public addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+public addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 ```
 Adds a listener for incoming contexts whenever a broadcast happens on the channel.
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ Adds a listener for incoming contexts whenever a broadcast happens on the channe
 Add a listener for any context that is broadcast on the channel:
 
 ```ts
-const listener = channel.addContextListener(null, context => {
+const listener = await channel.addContextListener(null, context => {
     if (context.type === 'fdc3.contact') {
         // handle the contact
     } else if (context.type === 'fdc3.instrument') => {
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ listener.unsubscribe();
 Adding listeners for specific types of context that is broadcast on the channel:
 
 ```ts
-const contactListener = channel.addContextListener('fdc3.contact', contact => {
+const contactListener = await channel.addContextListener('fdc3.contact', contact => {
     // handle the contact
 });
 
-const instrumentListener = channel.addContextListener('fdc3.instrument', instrument => {
+const instrumentListener = await channel.addContextListener('fdc3.instrument', instrument => {
     // handle the instrument
 });
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ instrumentListener.unsubscribe();
 ### `broadcast`
 
 ```typescript
-public broadcast(context: Context): void;
+public broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void>;
 ```
 
 Broadcasts a context on the channel. This function can be used without first joining the channel, allowing applications to broadcast on channels that they aren't a member of.
diff --git a/docs/api/ref/DesktopAgent.md b/docs/api/ref/DesktopAgent.md
index f7b52efdd..f0606d41d 100644
--- a/docs/api/ref/DesktopAgent.md
+++ b/docs/api/ref/DesktopAgent.md
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@ interface DesktopAgent {
   open(app: TargetApp, context?: Context): Promise<void>;
 
   // context
-  broadcast(context: Context): void;
-  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void>;
+  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
   /**
    * @deprecated 'Use `addContextListener(null, handler)` instead of `addContextListener(handler)`
    */
-  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 
   // intents
   findIntent(intent: string, context?: Context): Promise<AppIntent>;
   findIntentsByContext(context: Context): Promise<Array<AppIntent>>;
   raiseIntent(intent: string, context: Context, app?: TargetApp): Promise<IntentResolution>;
   raiseIntentForContext(context: Context, app?: TargetApp): Promise<IntentResolution>;
-  addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 
   // channels
   getOrCreateChannel(channelId: string): Promise<Channel>;
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ interface DesktopAgent {
   leaveCurrentChannel() : Promise<void>;
 
   //implementation info
-  getInfo(): ImplementationMetadata;
+  getInfo(): Promise<ImplementationMetadata>;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ interface DesktopAgent {
 ### `addContextListener`
 
 ```ts
-addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 /**
  * @deprecated 'Use `addContextListener(null, handler)` instead of `addContextListener(handler)`
  */
-addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 ```
 Adds a listener for incoming context broadcasts from the Desktop Agent. If the consumer is only interested in a context of a particular type, they can specify that type. If the consumer is able to receive context of any type or will inspect types received, then they can pass `null` as the `contextType` parameter to receive all context types. 
 
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ Context broadcasts are only received from apps that are joined to the same chann
 #### Examples
 ```js
 // any context
-const listener = fdc3.addContextListener(null, context => { ... });
+const listener = await fdc3.addContextListener(null, context => { ... });
 
 // listener for a specific type
-const contactListener = fdc3.addContextListener('fdc3.contact', contact => { ... });
+const contactListener = await fdc3.addContextListener('fdc3.contact', contact => { ... });
 ```
 
 #### See also
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ const contactListener = fdc3.addContextListener('fdc3.contact', contact => { ...
 ### `addIntentListener`
 
 ```ts
-addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 ```
  Adds a listener for incoming Intents from the Agent.
 
 #### Examples
 
 ```js
-const listener = fdc3.addIntentListener('StartChat', context => {
+const listener = await fdc3.addIntentListener('StartChat', context => {
   // start chat has been requested by another application
 });
 ```
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ const listener = fdc3.addIntentListener('StartChat', context => {
 ### `broadcast`
 
 ```ts
-broadcast(context: Context): void;
+broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void>;
 ```
 
 Publishes context to other apps on the desktop.  Calling `broadcast` at the `DesktopAgent` scope will push the context to whatever `Channel` the app is joined to.  If the app is not currently joined to a channel, calling `fdc3.broadcast` will have no effect.  Apps can still directly broadcast and listen to context on any channel via the methods on the `Channel` class.
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ let current = await fdc3.getCurrentChannel();
 ### `getInfo`
 
 ```ts
-getInfo(): ImplementationMetadata;
+getInfo(): Promise<ImplementationMetadata>;
 ```
 
 Retrieves information about the FDC3 Desktop Agent implementation, such as the implemented version of the FDC3 specification and the name of the implementation provider.
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ Returns an [`ImplementationMetadata`](Metadata#implementationmetadata) object.
 ```js
 import {compareVersionNumbers, versionIsAtLeast} from '@finos/fdc3';
 
-if (fdc3.getInfo && versionIsAtLeast(fdc3.getInfo(), "1.2")) {
+if (fdc3.getInfo && versionIsAtLeast(await fdc3.getInfo(), "1.2")) {
   await fdc3.raiseIntentForContext(context);
 } else {
   await fdc3.raiseIntent("ViewChart", context);
diff --git a/docs/api/spec.md b/docs/api/spec.md
index 5c0a9b309..4f304c90d 100644
--- a/docs/api/spec.md
+++ b/docs/api/spec.md
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ From version 1.2 of the FDC3 specification, it is possible to retrieve informati
 ```js
 import {compareVersionNumbers, versionIsAtLeast} from '@finos/fdc3';
 
-if (fdc3.getInfo && versionIsAtLeast(fdc3.getInfo(), '1.2')) {
+if (fdc3.getInfo && versionIsAtLeast(await fdc3.getInfo(), '1.2')) {
   await fdc3.raiseIntentForContext(context);
 } else {
   await fdc3.raiseIntent('ViewChart', context);
@@ -321,9 +321,9 @@ const appChannel = await fdc3.getOrCreateChannel('my_custom_channel');
 // get the current context of the channel
 const current = await appChannel.getCurrentContext();
 // add a listener
-appChannel.addContextListener(null, context => {...});
+await appChannel.addContextListener(null, context => {...});
 // broadcast to the channel
-appChannel.broadcast(context);
+await appChannel.broadcast(context);
 
 ```
 
diff --git a/src/api/Channel.ts b/src/api/Channel.ts
index 86a96d14a..f4a09a842 100644
--- a/src/api/Channel.ts
+++ b/src/api/Channel.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export interface Channel {
    *
    * `Error` with a string from the `ChannelError` enumeration.
    */
-  broadcast(context: Context): void;
+  broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void>;
 
   /**
    * Returns the last context that was broadcast on this channel. All channels initially have no context, until a
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ export interface Channel {
    * Adds a listener for incoming contexts whenever a broadcast happens on this channel.
    * @deprecated use `addContextListener(null, handler)` instead of `addContextListener(handler)`.
    */
-  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 
   /**
    * Adds a listener for incoming contexts of the specified context type whenever a broadcast happens on this channel.
    */
-  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 }
diff --git a/src/api/DesktopAgent.ts b/src/api/DesktopAgent.ts
index 6b449a6f6..997c3b1f2 100644
--- a/src/api/DesktopAgent.ts
+++ b/src/api/DesktopAgent.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ export interface DesktopAgent {
    * fdc3.broadcast(context);
    * ```
    */
-  broadcast(context: Context): void;
+  broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void>;
 
   /**
    * Raises a specific intent for resolution against apps registered with the desktop agent.
@@ -169,13 +169,13 @@ export interface DesktopAgent {
   /**
    * Adds a listener for incoming Intents from the Agent.
    */
-  addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 
   /**
    * Adds a listener for incoming context broadcast from the Desktop Agent.
    * @deprecated use `addContextListener(null, handler)` instead of `addContextListener(handler)`.
    */
-  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 
   /**
    * Adds a listener for incoming context broadcasts from the Desktop Agent. If the consumer is only interested in a context of a particular type, they can they can specify that type. If the consumer is able to receive context of any type or will inspect types received, then they can pass `null` as the `contextType` parameter to receive all context types.
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ export interface DesktopAgent {
    * const contactListener = fdc3.addContextListener('fdc3.contact', contact => { ... });
    * ```
    */
-  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Listener;
+  addContextListener(contextType: string | null, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener>;
 
   /**
    * Retrieves a list of the System channels available for the app to join
@@ -243,5 +243,5 @@ export interface DesktopAgent {
    * the implemented version of the FDC3 specification and the name of the implementation
    * provider.
    */
-  getInfo(): ImplementationMetadata;
+  getInfo(): Promise<ImplementationMetadata>;
 }
diff --git a/src/api/Methods.ts b/src/api/Methods.ts
index 631769eac..56289da38 100644
--- a/src/api/Methods.ts
+++ b/src/api/Methods.ts
@@ -11,13 +11,21 @@ function rejectIfNoGlobal(f: () => Promise<any>) {
   return window.fdc3 ? f() : Promise.reject(UnavailableError);
 }
 
-function throwIfNoGlobal(f: () => any) {
-  if (!window.fdc3) {
-    throw UnavailableError;
-  }
-  return f();
-}
-
+/**
+ * Utility function that returns a promise that will resolve immeadiately
+ * if the desktop agent API is found at `window.fdc3`. If the API is found,
+ * the promise will resolve when the `fdc3Ready` event is received or if it
+ * is found at the end of the specified timeout. If the API is not found, it
+ * will reject with an error.
+ *
+ * ```javascript
+ * await fdc3Ready();
+ * const intentListener = await addIntentListener("ViewChart", intentHandlerFn);
+ * ```
+ *
+ * @param waitForMs The number of milliseconds to wait for the FDC3 API to be
+ * ready. Defaults to 5 seconds.
+ */
 export const fdc3Ready = async (waitForMs = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT): Promise<void> => {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     // if the global is already available resolve immediately
@@ -51,8 +59,8 @@ export function findIntentsByContext(context: Context): Promise<AppIntent[]> {
   return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.findIntentsByContext(context));
 }
 
-export function broadcast(context: Context): void {
-  throwIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.broadcast(context));
+export function broadcast(context: Context): Promise<void> {
+  return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.broadcast(context));
 }
 
 export function raiseIntent(intent: string, context: Context, app?: TargetApp): Promise<IntentResolution> {
@@ -63,19 +71,19 @@ export function raiseIntentForContext(context: Context, app?: TargetApp): Promis
   return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.raiseIntentForContext(context, app));
 }
 
-export function addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Listener {
-  return throwIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.addIntentListener(intent, handler));
+export function addIntentListener(intent: string, handler: ContextHandler): Promise<Listener> {
+  return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.addIntentListener(intent, handler));
 }
 
 export function addContextListener(
   contextTypeOrHandler: string | null | ContextHandler,
   handler?: ContextHandler
-): Listener {
+): Promise<Listener> {
   //Handle (deprecated) function signature that allowed contextType argument to be omitted
   if (typeof contextTypeOrHandler !== 'function') {
-    return throwIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.addContextListener(contextTypeOrHandler, handler as ContextHandler));
+    return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.addContextListener(contextTypeOrHandler, handler as ContextHandler));
   } else {
-    return throwIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.addContextListener(null, contextTypeOrHandler as ContextHandler));
+    return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.addContextListener(null, contextTypeOrHandler as ContextHandler));
   }
 }
 
@@ -99,8 +107,8 @@ export function leaveCurrentChannel(): Promise<void> {
   return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.leaveCurrentChannel());
 }
 
-export function getInfo(): ImplementationMetadata {
-  return throwIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.getInfo());
+export function getInfo(): Promise<ImplementationMetadata> {
+  return rejectIfNoGlobal(() => window.fdc3.getInfo());
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/test/Methods.test.ts b/test/Methods.test.ts
index 6d525f73d..57ad928a1 100644
--- a/test/Methods.test.ts
+++ b/test/Methods.test.ts
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ describe('test ES6 module', () => {
       await expect(findIntentsByContext(expect.any(Object))).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
 
-    test('broadcast should throw', async () => {
-      expect(() => broadcast(expect.any(Object))).toThrowError(UnavailableError);
+    test('broadcast should reject', async () => {
+      await expect(broadcast(expect.any(Object))).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
 
     test('raiseIntent should reject', async () => {
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ describe('test ES6 module', () => {
       await expect(raiseIntentForContext(expect.any(Object))).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
 
-    test('addIntentListener should throw', () => {
-      expect(() => addIntentListener(expect.any(String), expect.any(Function))).toThrowError(UnavailableError);
+    test('addIntentListener should reject', async () => {
+      await expect(addIntentListener(expect.any(String), expect.any(Function))).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
 
-    test('addContextListener should throw', () => {
-      expect(() => addContextListener(expect.any(Object))).toThrowError(UnavailableError);
+    test('addContextListener should reject', async () => {
+      await expect(addContextListener(expect.any(Object))).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
 
-      expect(() => addContextListener(expect.any(String), expect.any(Object))).toThrowError(UnavailableError);
+      await expect(addContextListener(expect.any(String), expect.any(Object))).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
 
     test('getSystemChannels should reject', async () => {
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ describe('test ES6 module', () => {
       await expect(leaveCurrentChannel()).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
 
-    test('getInfo should throw', () => {
-      expect(() => getInfo()).toThrowError(UnavailableError);
+    test('getInfo should reject', async () => {
+      await expect(() => getInfo()).rejects.toEqual(UnavailableError);
     });
   });
 
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ describe('test ES6 module', () => {
       expect(window.fdc3.findIntentsByContext).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ContactContext);
     });
 
-    test('broadcast should delegate to window.fdc3.broadcast', () => {
-      broadcast(ContactContext);
+    test('broadcast should delegate to window.fdc3.broadcast', async () => {
+      await broadcast(ContactContext);
 
       expect(window.fdc3.broadcast).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(window.fdc3.broadcast).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ContactContext);
@@ -164,23 +164,23 @@ describe('test ES6 module', () => {
       expect(window.fdc3.raiseIntentForContext).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ContactContext, app);
     });
 
-    test('addIntentListener should delegate to window.fdc3.addIntentListener', () => {
+    test('addIntentListener should delegate to window.fdc3.addIntentListener', async () => {
       const intent = 'ViewChart';
       const handler: ContextHandler = _ => {};
 
-      addIntentListener(intent, handler);
+      await addIntentListener(intent, handler);
 
       expect(window.fdc3.addIntentListener).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(window.fdc3.addIntentListener).toHaveBeenCalledWith(intent, handler);
     });
 
-    test('addContextListener should delegate to window.fdc3.addContextListener', () => {
+    test('addContextListener should delegate to window.fdc3.addContextListener', async () => {
       const type = 'fdc3.instrument';
       const handler1: ContextHandler = _ => {};
       const handler2: ContextHandler = _ => {};
 
-      addContextListener(type, handler1);
-      addContextListener(handler2);
+      await addContextListener(type, handler1);
+      await addContextListener(handler2);
 
       expect(window.fdc3.addContextListener).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
       expect(window.fdc3.addContextListener).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, type, handler1);
@@ -226,8 +226,8 @@ describe('test ES6 module', () => {
       expect(window.fdc3.leaveCurrentChannel).toHaveBeenCalledWith();
     });
 
-    test('getInfo should delegate to window.fdc3.getInfo', () => {
-      getInfo();
+    test('getInfo should delegate to window.fdc3.getInfo', async () => {
+      await getInfo();
 
       expect(window.fdc3.getInfo).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(window.fdc3.getInfo).toHaveBeenCalledWith();