A system and method for activating and registering a security system with a cellular provider using SMS messages is provided. The SMS messages used for activating and registering the security system are generated in a format that is predetermined by the processing station in order to provide a uniform structure for presenting the necessary information required for the specified function, i.e., activation or registration. The use of a uniform structure for the SMS allows the message to be processed entirely by a computer thus reducing cost, delay and error from having the information entered manually by a technician.