Brian The BMW dealership who installed mine gave me a code number which I then gave to my regular Cell phone company rep. Then the phone in my car was activated (24 hours). I decided against the voice act. phone as I usually am having to talk to my kids nonstop and its just easier for me to scroll and dial with my turn stalk and button than try to speak clearly thru all the din. ( "Its just the normal noises in here".. Tom Petty) It works great.