A wireless packet data system efficiently manages a location of a packet call in a radio environment. A mobile station transmits a location registration message to a target BSC when moving to the target BSC adjacent to a source BSC. Upon receipt of the location registration message, the target BSC transmits a location update message for updating a location of the mobile station to a centralized database. Upon receipt of the location update message, the centralized database updates dormant state information for the mobile station to connect the target BSC to the source BSC. The centralized database transmits a location update result message indicating complete update of the dormant state information to the target BSC.