A system and a method for activation of portable and mobile media player devices for wireless LAN services have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a server computer, a wireless transmitter to transmit a signal, and a portable device comprising a wireless receiver to receive the signal and a wireless transceiver to transition from a first state to a second state to perform content synchronization with the server computer in response to the signal, wherein the wireless transceiver consumes less power in the first state than in the second state. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.