Mobile Device Activation Via Dynamically Selected Access Network

1 . A method performed by a wireless device, the method comprising:

sending a message to a network element over a first wireless access network, the message including a first device credential, the message configured to obtain information to assist in presenting an on-device user service plan selection choice through a user interface of the wireless device;

determining that the wireless device is not authorized to connect to the network element over the first wireless network; and

in response to determining that the wireless device is not authorized to connect to the network element over the first wireless access network, attempting to connect to the network element over a second data access network.

2 . The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

connecting to the network element over the second data access network;

receiving a second device credential from the network element;

obtaining the on-device user service plan selection choice; and

presenting the on-device user service plan selection choice through the user interface.

3 . The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising determining that attempting to connect to the network element over the second wireless access network has failed and, in response, prompting a user to obtain a valid device credential through another process.

4 . The method recited in claim 3 , wherein prompting the user comprises presenting a notification through the user interface instructing a user of the wireless device to contact customer care.

5 . The method recited in claim 3 , wherein prompting the user comprises presenting a notification through the user interface directing a user of the wireless device to a web site.

6 . The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting a notification through the user interface, and

configuring a setting to enable said attempting to connect to the network element over the second data access network.

7 . The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first device credential is provisioned on the network element.

8 . The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a second device credential to assist the wireless device in connecting to the first wireless access network.

9 . The method recited in claim 8 , wherein obtaining the second device credential comprises receiving the second device credential over the air.

10 . The method recited in claim 9 , wherein obtaining the second device credential comprises obtaining the second device credential through the user interface.

11 . The method recited in claim 8 , wherein the second device credential is provisioned on the network element.

12 . The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless access network is a cellular network and the second data access network is a WiFi network.

13 . The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless access network is a cellular network and the second data access network is a local area network (LAN).

14 . The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising assisting in authenticating the wireless device.

15 . The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the network element comprises one or more of a home location register (HLR), a home subscriber server (HSS), a serving GPRS support node (SGSN), a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), a packet data serving node (PDSN), a home agent, a foreign agent, or an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server.

16 . The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first device credential comprises one or more of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a mobile station international subscriber directory number (MSISDN), a mobile directory number (MDN), a mobile identification number (MIN), an electronic serial number (ESN), a mobile equipment identifier (MEID), an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), a media access control (MAC) address, an IP address, a shared secret, a username, a password, or a network access identifier (NAI).

17 . The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising presenting the on-device user service plan selection choice through the user interface.

18 . The method recited in claim 17 , wherein a least a portion of the on-device user service plan selection choice is stored on the wireless device.

19 . The method recited in claim 17 , wherein a least a portion of the on-device user service plan selection choice is stored on the network element.

20 . The method recited in claim 17 , further comprising:

obtaining, through the user interface, a user selection in response to the on-device user service plan selection choice; and

sending the user selection to the network element.

21 . The method recited in claim 17 , further comprising:

obtaining, through the user interface, user payment information in response to the on-device user service plan selection choice; and

sending the user payment information to the network element.

22 . A method performed by a network system, the method comprising:

receiving, over a wireless access network, an authorization request from a wireless device, the authorization request comprising a first device credential associated with the wireless device;

obtaining a second device credential from a database, the second device credential associated with the wireless device;

determining, based on the first device credential and the second device credential, whether to authorize the wireless device; and

sending a message to the wireless device, the message indicating whether the wireless device is authorized to communicate over the wireless access network.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the message indicates that the wireless device is authorized to communicate over the wireless access network, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the wireless device, a user selection indicating a user service plan selection choice; and

provisioning one or more network elements in accordance with the user service plan selection choice.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein receiving, over a wireless access network, the authorization request from the wireless device comprises receiving the authorization request over a secure link, the secure link secured by an encryption protocol and configured to support control-plane communications between the network system and the wireless device.

25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising sending one or more user service plan selection options to the wireless device, and wherein the user selection corresponds to one of the one or more user service plan selection options.

26 . A wireless device comprising:

one or more modems enabling the wireless device to connect to at least a first wireless access network and a second data access network;

a user interface; and

computing circuitry, including one or more processors and memory to store program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

send a message to a network element over the first wireless access network using the first modem, the message including a first device credential, the message configured to obtain information to assist in presenting an on-device user service plan selection choice via the user interface;

determine that the wireless device is not authorized to communicate with the network element over the first wireless network; and

in response to determining that the wireless device is not authorized to communicate with the network element over the first wireless access network, attempt to connect to the network element over the second data access network.

27 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to store program code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

send a message to a network element over a first wireless access network, the message including a first device credential, the message configured to obtain information to assist in presenting an on-device user service plan selection choice via the user interface;

determine that the wireless device is not authorized to connect to the network element over the first wireless network; and

in response to determining that the wireless device is not authorized to connect to the network element over the first wireless access network, attempt to connect to the network element over a second data access network.