An application stored in a mobile device is provisioned using provisioning data received from remote data storage via a network. Provisioning data is obtained at no cost to a user of the mobile device. In some implementations, the provisioning data is received after the mobile device requests to establish a data channel with a data network. The data network is identified using a predetermined identifier that the network recognizes. If the network does not recognize the special identifier, no data channel is established. After a data channel is established, the mobile device requests provisioning data from the remote data storage. In some implementations, the mobile device receives a provisioning message through a predetermined port. The provisioning message either includes provisioning data or prompts the mobile device to obtain provisioning data.