A method is provided for updating a message waiting notification count in a profile of a mobile telephone in an ANSI41 environment. An information directive, a message defined by the ANSI41 standard is modified to included the message waiting notification count, a parameter defined by the ANSI41 standard. The updates to the message waiting notification count are transmitted from a voice mail system node to a home location register by the modified information directive without the use of dedicated connections and proprietary interfaces.