Network status information is provided to a mobile device. The data usage of the mobile device is tracked. A data usage criterion is determined from an account for the mobile device. The account information is stored on at least one server. The data usage is compared with the data usage criterion. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the data usage meets the data usage criterion. Upon determining that the data usage meets the data usage criterion, a notification message is sent to the mobile device in real time through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the wireless packet data communication network. The notification message may instruct the mobile device to prevent generation and/or transmission of automatic network access requests while allowing user-initiated network access requests.