A system and method for activating services on a wireless device are provided that improve a user's experience and ease of activation/provisioning of services for the wireless device by providing a new provisioning channel for service activations. A user is simply required to input a short activation code(s) into the wireless device which is combined into an activation message along with other device-related information that is automatically retrieved from the wireless device. The generated activation message is then transmitted over the messaging provisioning channel accessible by inactive and/or unprovisioned wireless devices for delivery to a remote site for use in activating services on the wireless device. The services to be activated may include at least one of the following: out of the box activation, device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content.