A system and method for automatically controlling the rate of updates for data applications running on a mobile device. The method includes monitoring the data applications running on the mobile device, determining the data applications that receive updates to the mobile device, detecting the set-up of a voice call, and adjusting the time between updates based on the detecting step. The detecting step may include detecting an input by a user, detecting a call set-up request by the mobile device, or detecting that the mobile device is positioned near a head of a user. The determining step may include measuring the time between updates to the data application or detecting a signal from the data application indicating that updates may occur or detecting a signal from the data application indicating that automatic updates of the data application are enabled. The adjusting step may include lengthening the time between updates or suspending updates to the data application during a voice call.