Wireless terminal beacon signaling is used to achieve timing synchronization between two wireless terminals in a wireless communication system, e.g., in an ad hoc network lacking a centralized timing reference. An exemplary timing structure used by an individual wireless terminal includes a beacon transmission time interval, a beacon monitoring time interval and a silence time interval. A first wireless terminal monitoring for beacon signals from other wireless terminals, detects a beacon signal portion from a second wireless terminal and determines a timing adjustment as a function of the detected beacon signal portion. The first wireless terminal applies the determined timing adjustment, e.g., time shifting its timing structure, such that its beacon signal can be detected by the second wireless terminal. Implementation of the determined timing adjustment sets the timing structures of the two wireless terminals to have a fixed relationship thereby allowing for coordinated communications including a peer-to-peer communications session.