Cellular-telephone-based servers are provided that have reduced power consumption. When a cellular-telephone-based server is active, the server may maintain an Internet Protocol (IP) link with a communications network. When no users are connected to the server or at other appropriate times, the cellular-telephone-based server may enter a hibernation state to reduce power consumption. In the hibernation state, the cellular telephone that is running the server may maintain a communications link that supports short messaging service (SMS) messaging and may maintain a communications link associated with control channels that convey control data for cellular telephone communications. A user wishing to connect to the server may send an SMS address request to the server to obtain its IP address. If the server is hibernating, a service controller can activate the server before responding to the SMS address request.