For use in a wireless network, a mobile station that can selectively use the reduced slot cycle mode under the control of a first wireless network base station. The mobile station comprises: 1) a message controller for communicating in a paging channel with the first base station; and 2) a reduced slot cycle controller coupled to the message controller for causing the message controller to transmit to the first base station a first Release Order message comprising a minimum reduced slot cycle index (SCI) value requested by the mobile station. The reduced slot cycle controller is further capable of receiving from the first base station a second Release Order message comprising a selected slot cycle index (SCI) value at which the mobile station will operate.