Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for management of mobile device radio state. In some embodiments, a method, which can be implemented on a system, allows a network component (e.g., the policy and charging rules function in a UMTS network) to determine whether a mobile device is idle or active. Based on this determination, the network component may modify the behavior of a network element (e.g., a base station, eNode B or Node B) in relation to promotion or demotion of the mobile device's radio state. In some embodiments, the disclosed system can include a client side component on the mobile device which can determine criteria to be used by the network component to govern and optimize changes in mobile device radio state in a manner that conserves device and network resources.