Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for configuring a mobile wireless hotspot in a wireless network. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising: establishing, by a mobile hotspot device, a control channel with a wireless device, using an out-of-band communications connection in an out-of-band communications medium; and exchanging, by the wireless device over the control channel, with the mobile hotspot device, by at least one of transmitting or receiving in-band communications connectivity configuration information to enable power saving features and optimize activity times in an in-band communications tethering connection with the mobile hotspot device in an in-band communications medium, for relaying by the mobile hotspot device, communications between the wireless device and one or more entities in at least one of a wide area communications network and a wireless local area network provided by the mobile hotspot device.