Pre-provisioning and de-provisioning functions for a mobile system

1. A provisioning server comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one non-transitory memory;

at least one communications interface for sending and receiving data; and

a plurality of instructions stored in the non-transitory memory, which, when executed by the at least one processor:

receives and stores a mobile device reference number related to a mobile device that is not yet completely provisioned for wireless service on a wireless network,

receives and stores pre-provisioning data of the mobile device assigned to the mobile device reference number from at least one data store associated with a customer, a buyer, an equipment manufacturer, or a wireless service provider prior to the mobile device being powered on for a first time by an end user of the mobile device, wherein the pre-provisioning data includes a programming payload with all information necessary to initially provision and activate the mobile device for wireless service, the programming payload comprises a plurality of a customer account identifier, a mobile device identifier, a mobile device type, or a rate plan,

stores instructions related to an activation event for provisioning the mobile device by using the pre-provisioning data, wherein the activation event occurs in response to the mobile device being powered on for the first time,

in response to the mobile device being powered on for the first time by the end user of the mobile device and communicating only a mobile device reference number for the mobile device to a cellular network tower via wireless signal, receives only the mobile device reference number from the mobile device,

based on reception of only the mobile device reference number from the mobile device, matches the mobile device reference number received from the cellular network tower with the stored mobile reference number,

in response to matching the mobile device reference numbers, sends the programming payload over the wireless network to the mobile device to initially activate and completely provision the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is completely provisioned merely by the mobile device being turned on, and wherein the mobile device is initially activated and put into service by provisioning itself with the programming payload received from the provisioning server, and

subsequent to the mobile device being activated and provisioned by the programming payload, sends an updated programming payload that at least one of re-provisions or de-provisions the mobile device after a predetermined time interval via the wireless network, wherein a de-provision process executes by the updated programming payload sent by the provisioning server or a client program stored on the mobile device.

2. The provisioning server in claim 1 , wherein the mobile device being powered on for the first time excludes any instance of testing or other process performed while the mobile device is in the supply chain.

3. The provisioning server of claim 1 , wherein, from the end user's perspective, the end user of the mobile device merely has to turn on the mobile device in range of at least one cellular network tower to initially activate the mobile device.

4. A system for provisioning mobile devices, comprising:

a provisioning server having at least one processor and a non-transitory memory connected to a network that:

stores a plurality of mobile device reference numbers assigned to a plurality of mobile devices that is not yet completely provisioned for wireless service on a wireless network;

stores pre-provisioning data for each of the plurality of mobile devices prior to the plurality of mobile devices being powered on for a first time by end users of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the pre-provisioning data for each of the plurality of mobile devices includes a corresponding programming payload with all information necessary to initially provision and activate service on the corresponding mobile device, the programming payload for each of the plurality of mobile devices comprises a plurality of a customer account identifier, a mobile device identifier, a mobile device type, or a rate plan;

in response to a mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices being powered on for a first time by an end user of the mobile device and communicating only a mobile device reference number for the mobile device to a cellular network tower via wireless signal, receives only the mobile device reference number from the mobile device;

based on reception of only the mobile device reference number from the mobile device, matches the mobile device reference number received from the cellular network tower with the corresponding stored mobile device reference number;

in response to matching the mobile device reference numbers, sends the corresponding programming payload over the network to the mobile device to initially activate and completely provision the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is completely provisioned merely by the mobile device being turned on, and wherein the mobile device is initially activated and put into service by provisioning itself with the corresponding programming payload received from the provisioning server; and

subsequent to the mobile device being activated and provisioned by the corresponding programming payload, sends an updated programming payload that at least one of re-provisions or de-provisions the mobile device after a predetermined time interval via the wireless network, wherein a de-provision process executes by the updated programming payload sent by the provisioning server or a client program stored on the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the corresponding programming payload, when downloaded to the mobile device, causes the mobile device to accept an assigned mobile telecommunications access number.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the corresponding programming payload comprises instructions capable of causing the mobile device to provision itself.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the corresponding programming payload is provided via one of Short Message Service, Multimedia Messaging Service or Wireless Application Protocol.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein each programming payload includes the customer account identifier, the mobile device identifier, the mobile device type, and the rate plan.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein the corresponding programming payload includes at least one of: a geographical location setting, a software application identifier, or a device authentication parameter.

10. The system of claim 4 , wherein the corresponding programming payload includes a mobile device number.

11. A method of provisioning a mobile telecommunication device, comprising:

storing, on a provisioning server, pre-provisioning data configured for a mobile device that is not completely provisioned for wireless service on a wireless network prior to the mobile device being powered on for a first time by an end user of the mobile device, wherein the pre-provisioning data includes a programming payload with all information necessary to initially provision and activate service on the mobile device, the programming payload comprises a plurality of a customer account identifier, a mobile device identifier, a mobile device type, or a rate plan;

in response to the mobile device being powered on for the first time by the end user of the mobile device and communicating only a mobile device reference number for the mobile device to a cellular network tower via wireless signal, receiving, by the provisioning server, only the mobile device reference number from the mobile device;

matching, by the provisioning server, the mobile device reference number received from the cellular network tower with the stored mobile device reference number;

in response to matching the mobile device reference numbers, sending, by the provisioning server, the programming payload over the wireless network to the mobile device to initially activate and completely provision the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is completely provisioned merely by the mobile device being turned on, and wherein the mobile device is initially activated and put into service by provisioning itself with the programming payload received from the provisioning server; and

subsequent to the mobile device being activated and provisioned by the programming payload, sending, by the provisioning server, an updated programming payload that at least one of re-provisions or de-provisions the mobile device after a predetermined time interval via the wireless network, wherein a de-provision process executes by the updated programming payload sent by the provisioning server or a client program stored on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

after the mobile device is initially provisioned, performing the de-provisioning process on the mobile device causing the mobile device to be returned to a deprovisioned state;

updating, on the provisioning server, the pre-provisioning data configured for the mobile device, wherein the updated pre-provisioning data includes the updated programming payload; and

in response to powering on the mobile device another time, sending, by the provisioning server, the updated programming payload to the mobile device to re-provision the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the de-provisioning of the mobile device occurs after a predetermined time interval.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device reference number includes at least one of an Electronic Serial Number, an International Mobile Equipment Identity, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, or a Mobile Equipment Identifier.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the provisioning data includes at least one of a telephone number, an account number, an account name, or a wireless service provider identifier.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the provisioning data includes device settings that work on the identifiable mobile device, and do not work on other types of mobile devices which are configured to be connected to the provisioning server.