1. A method for detecting a long poll request initiated at a mobile device, the method comprising: detecting a first request initiated by a client on the mobile device; detecting a second request initiated by the client on the mobile device after a first response is received at the mobile device responsive to the first request; using a response delay time interval relative to an idle time interval to determine whether requests initiated by the client are long poll requests; wherein, the response delay time interval is between time of the first request and receipt of the first response responsive to the first request; wherein, the idle time interval is between time of the first response to time of the second request; wherein, the requests initiated by the client are determined to be long poll requests if the response delay time interval is greater than a threshold value; wherein, the threshold value is determined by a local proxy at the mobile device; and wherein a proxy server external to the mobile device is able to communicate over a wireless network with other different mobile devices.