Location update techniques are described. A dormant mobile node updates its location information by sending a first message over a wireless link to an access node. The access node generates a second update message in response to the first message. The second message includes a mobile node identifier and, in some embodiments is directed to the mobile node. The second message is received by a tracking agent, which updates location information corresponding to the mobile node. In the case where second message is an IP message and is routed to the mobile node using Mobile IP, a Mobile IP home agent routes the second message to the mobile node's last point of network attachment where the tracking agent is located and intercepts the message. The tracking agent may send a response message to the access node sending the second message.