A method of controlling a mobile communications device receiver, which includes: activating the receiver, receiving a voice signal divided into a plurality of voice time intervals, detecting a silent voice time interval from content of the received voice signal, and deactivating the receiver during at least a portion of the silent voice time interval. In addition, the method may also include: receiving a signaling signal divided into a plurality of signaling time intervals, detecting an empty signaling time interval from the plurality of signaling time intervals, and deactivating the receiver during at least a portion of the empty signaling time interval.