A technique for use in communicating data messages to a mobile device with use of a host service in a communication system is described. The host service connects with a service node for establishing and maintaining an IP connection between the host service and the service node. The host service receives a data message for the mobile device, and determines whether the mobile device is logged on. In response to determining that the mobile device is logged on, the host service sends the data message to the mobile device without aid of the service node. Otherwise, the host service creates an enable message which identifies the mobile device and includes a subset of the data message, and sends it to the service node over the IP connection for subsequent forwarding to the mobile device in a wireless network.