Abstract: A method is described for operating a mobile station with a wireless network having packet data capabilities, as is a network that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes establishing default operational parameters values for the mobile station and, when establishing a PDP Context for use by an application, such as a delay-critical application that may be a real-time application (or any application that requires specific operational values, such as DRX values), requesting a modification of the default operational parameters values so as to reduce the delay in the establishment of a TBF for the application. In the preferred embodiment the operational parameters comprise DRX parameters selected to optimize the paging operation of the MS to reduce the delay in transferring packet data to or from the MS. In other embodiments the operational parameters can include MS Radio Access Capability (RAC) parameters, such as Multi-slot Class, GPRS Timers and/or MS Power Class.