Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reducing battery consumption during periods of inactivity intermixed with traffic bursts in wireless communications systems. A semi-connected mode is provided that fast recognition of mobile devices upon wakeup and access while enabling mobile devices to operate in reduce power states. A mobile device operates in a semi-connected mode with all base stations in an active set of the mobile device. Moreover, mechanisms are provided to notify mobile devices of pending data while avoiding latency associated with paging channels.