A method, system, and computer-program product are disclosed, each of which enable the receipt of SIAs (Server Initiated Actions) on non-SMS-enabled devices, using existing infrastructure. An existing IP-based messaging protocol, such as "chat" architecture, is utilized as a transport for the SIAs. A network server constructs an SIA chat message and delivers it to the mobile client. The mobile client examines the chat message and, if it is configured to indicate that it is an SIA message, then the message is not shown on the mobile device, and an initiation command is executed, e.g., an indication is displayed to a user of the mobile client (e.g., to indicate the receipt of new email). Alternatively, upon receipt and identification of the SIA message, the mobile client can execute an initiation command causing the performance of a function identified by the SIA message, for example, to begin to download email immediately.