A wireless device is wirelessly connected to a wireless network which is controlled by network control apparatus. The wireless device operates in a first activity state in which data can be transmitted to and received from the wireless network over one or more dedicated logical channels. The wireless device transitions to operate in a second activity state having lower power consumption than the first activity state if it is determined by the wireless device that data has not been transmitted by and has not been received at the wireless device for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time is known to both the wireless device and the network control apparatus. The transition takes place synchronously without requiring control signals to be passed between the wireless device and the network control apparatus.