A method and system is disclosed for using common provisioning data to activate cellular wireless devices. A wireless carrier may distribute multiple wireless devices containing a common set of pre-activation provisioning data, such as a common MIN/ESN pair, as well as a unique post-activation data, such as a unique ESN. When such a device is powered on, it may use the common pre-activation provisioning data to gain RF access and then enter into a provisioning data session with a provisioning server. Through the provisioning server, the carrier may tie the device to a service account, and the device may acquire and store further post-activation data, such as a unique MIN. The device may thereafter engage in wireless communication service, using its post-activation ESN and MIN as a basis to gain RF access.