1. A method of saving energy in a mobile device configured to maintain a persistent communication session with an application server over a wireless network, the method comprising: detecting a traffic pattern between the mobile device and the application server for maintaining the persistent communication session; and automatically initiating a transition of the mobile device from a first operating state to a second operating state in response to detecting the traffic pattern, wherein power consumption associated with the second operating state is less than power consumption associated with the first operating state.