Abstract: A customer is alerted to the availability or completion of service by a service provider through communication with a wireless terminal of the customer. The terminal has an assigned identification number and a control channel, and as a first step, the identification number (e.g., telephone number) of the wireless terminal is registered with the service provider. When service for the customer is available or completed, a determination is made of whether the wireless terminal is active. If active, the customer is alerted to the availability or completion of the service, preferably using a preformatted message transmitted to the wireless terminal over the control channel. In one example, the service provider is a restaurant and the customer is alerted to the availability of a table.