Point-of-sale activation of media device account

A method of activating a feature of a media device, comprising:

• inputting device identifier information during a device purchase transaction;
• passing the device identifier information to a central processor;
• storing the device identifier information by the central processor;
• receiving device activation information by an activation processor;
• passing an activation authorization request to the central processor;
• processing the device identifier information by the central processor;
• passing an activation authorization response to the activation processor;
• and
• initiating device activation or denying the activation authorization request.

A method of activating an account, comprising:

• completing a purchase transaction associated with an account;
• sending a transaction confirmation indicating that the purchase transaction was completed;
• and
• activating the account based on the transaction confirmation.

A method of activating at least one feature stored in a media device, comprising:

• storing at a central processor information identifying a media device, the media device comprising at least one of a flash drive, a USB drive, an external hard drive, a thumb drive, an SD format memory card, a CF format memory card, an xD format memory card, a Memory Card Duo, and a SIM card;
• after the storing action, inputting device identifier information at a merchant terminal during a purchase of the media device, the device identifier information identifying the media device;
• receiving the device identifier information from a merchant terminal at a central processor;
• registering the sale of the media device based on the act of receiving the device identifier information;
• receiving a device activation request at the central processor;
• determining whether to authorize activation of the device based on the registering action;
• and
• based on a determination that the media device is registered, causing the media device to store activation information, the activation information enabling at least one of a storage and processing functionality of the media device.