Techniques are described for identifying a wireless access point device using beacon messages and probe responses. An access point may generate and broadcast beacon messages which include an information element containing information specific to the device as well as to the current context of the device. For example, the information element may include a device vendor ID, product ID, and a device-unique ID. That is, the information element provides information related to the device itself independently from the configuration of the wireless network which the beacon message (or probe response) is associated with.