Proxy discovery for mobile networks having cooperative multiradio devices is provided through short range discovery and assistance from the network. In some aspects, a dedicated message is sent in response to a request from the client. The dedicated message includes a proxy list. The client uses the proxy list to discover those proxies on the list. Other aspects provide for the proxy list to be included in broadcast messages from the network. Thus, clients receive the broadcast messages and extract the proxy list for discovery purposes. Other aspects provide for the client to detect all of the wireless devices in the area and send a list to the network. The network responds with a sub-list of those proxies that are available to the client. In each such aspect, when the client discovers the available proxies, it transmits a list of the proxy ID of the discovered proxies to the network.