Abstract: Disclosed is a system for improving the overall battery life of a GSM device according to an optimization mechanism for suspending neighbor-cell scanning in a GSM wireless communication system, the system having a wireless device including: (a) a Central Processing Unit (CPU) executing software programs intended to comply with GSM protocol specifications; (b) an RF transmission unit and an RF reception unit functioning either independently or as a single unit; (c) a specialized Digital Signal Processor being able to process received signal at a corresponding receiving antenna and offering estimates of the received signal level and quality; (d) a logic process by which the mobile terminal powers off an RF module thereof for a definite period of time and wakes up at a pre-determined interval to listen to paging messages transmitted thereto; and (e) firmware/software performing neighbor cell monitoring in compliance with a protocol mandated by GSM standards.