A method for providing message services is provided that includes receiving a user notification message in an application. A user identifier for at least one recipient of the message is received in the application. The user identifier is operable to identify the recipient. The message and the user identifier are provided from the application to a private network. The private network is operable to transmit the message to a mobile station for the recipient. The mobile station has a corresponding mobile station identifier, and the user identifier is assigned to the mobile station identifier in the private network.