A method of activating a wireless device on a wireless network, the method comprising: maintaining, at an activation system, a pool of temporary international mobile station identity, "IMSI", numbers, wherein a temporary IMSI number from the pool of temporary IMSI numbers is assigned to the wireless devise as part of a subscriber identity module, "SIM", manufacturing process, wherein the wireless device is not activated as a subscriber on the wireless network; providing, in the wireless network, a detection device configured to identify the wireless device; configuring the wireless network to identify the detection device as a quasi-home location register for the pool of temporary IMSI numbers; receiving at a base station controller a message from the wireless device, the temporary IMSI number being included in or identifiable from the message; identifying the temporary IMSI number based on the message from the wireless device; based on the identification of the temporary IMSI number from the message, receiving, at the detection device, a query, from a component of the wireless network, for data pertaining to the wireless device; and in response to the query, the detection device assigning a temporary addressing number to the wireless device; providing to the component of the wireless network the temporary addressing number; and notifying the activation system that the wireless device has been detected; assigning, at the activation system, a permanent addressing number and a permanent IMSI number to the wireless device; and creating a record in a home location register corresponding to the wireless device, wherein the record comprises the permanent addressing number. maintaining, at an activation system, a pool of temporary international mobile station identity, "IMSI", numbers, wherein a temporary IMSI number from the pool of temporary IMSI numbers is assigned to the wireless devise as part of a subscriber identity module, "SIM", manufacturing process, wherein the wireless device is not activated as a subscriber on the wireless network; providing, in the wireless network, a detection device configured to identify the wireless device; configuring the wireless network to identify the detection device as a quasi-home location register for the pool of temporary IMSI numbers; receiving at a base station controller a message from the wireless device, the temporary IMSI number being included in or identifiable from the message; identifying the temporary IMSI number based on the message from the wireless device; based on the identification of the temporary IMSI number from the message, receiving, at the detection device, a query, from a component of the wireless network, for data pertaining to the wireless device; and in response to the query, the detection device assigning a temporary addressing number to the wireless device; providing to the component of the wireless network the temporary addressing number; and notifying the activation system that the wireless device has been detected; assigning, at the activation system, a permanent addressing number and a permanent IMSI number to the wireless device; and creating a record in a home location register corresponding to the wireless device, wherein the record comprises the permanent addressing number.