1. A mobile device which receives control signals over an alternate channel to an IP channel that is open, the mobile device, comprising: a processor; a memory unit having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the processor, causes the mobile device to: determine a timeout parameter corresponding to an amount of time a radio of the mobile device will be active; receive the control signals over the alternate channel, without utilizing the IP channel, in response to determining that a timing specified by the timeout parameter has been reached or exceeded; wherein receiving the control signals over the alternate channel does not utilize a cellular radio of the mobile device, wherein the control signals are generated by a server that is aware of the mobile device's radio state and the mobile device's radio state is used by the server to select a communications channel for sending the control signals which does not cause the mobile device radio to power on or to otherwise switch on to a higher powered state.