A scheme is provided for conserving power in client terminals and/or reducing latency in wireless systems by using a proxy device. The client terminal may have a primary communication interface for communications with an access node and a secondary communication interface to communicate with the proxy device. The client terminal may indicate to the access node a short cycle rate for monitoring its signaling/control channel(s). The client terminal may the power off its primary communication interface without informing the access node. Prior to powering off its primary communication interface, the client terminal may assign the proxy device to act as its proxy and monitor the signaling/control channel with the access node. The proxy device monitors the signaling/control channel(s) according to the indicated short cycle rate. Upon detection of a message for the client terminal, the proxy device forwards the message to the client terminal via a secondary communication interface.