Abstract: An activation of a wireless device for network service on a home network of the carrier or service provider with which a user subscribes or intends to subscribe can be implemented over an alternate wireless network, e.g., a network of another wireless carrier. A data communication containing a request for activation is received from a non-activated wireless device via the alternate wireless network on a server configured to provide activation. The data communication is compared to one or more activation criteria. Upon determining, based on the comparison, that the content meets the one or more activation criteria, an activation data packet for activation of the non-activated wireless device is sent to the non-activated wireless device over the home wireless network and over the alternate wireless network.

Abstract: An activation of a wireless device for network service on a home network of the carrier or service provider with which a user subscribes or intends to subscribe can be implemented over an alternate wireless network, e.g., a network of another wireless carrier. A data communication containing a request for activation is received from a non-activated wireless device via the alternate wireless network on a server configured to provide activation. The data communication is compared to one or more activation criteria. Upon determining, based on the comparison, that the content meets the one or more activation criteria, an activation data packet for activation of the non-activated wireless device is sent to the non-activated wireless device over the home wireless network and over the alternate wireless network.

Abstract: An exemplary extended dialing plan allows use of one or more special characters, such as the # digit and the * digit, as dialable digits. The telecommunications network receives a string of characters representing a destination address from a first communication device, for use in routing a communication through the network to a second communication device. The received string of characters includes a number digit in the first position in the string and at least one non-numerical special character in another position. The character string is received from the first communication device by the network, the character string is analyzed and used to route the communication through the telecommunication network to the destination address based at least in part on the character string with at least one non-numerical special character.