In a packet switch for communicating packet switched data to and from a plurality of wireless mobile stations, a method and apparatus for automatically releasing resources tied up for communicating with dormant mobile stations. If the station has been dormant for a sufficiently long time, an alerting message is sent to the user of that mobile station. The user can then respond by requesting a release of the packet switched data (PSD) call currently connected to that mobile station or can request that the connection remain up. Advantageously, if the user of the station does not respond, then following a timeout the PSD call is released and the resources required for keeping the dormant call in existence are made available for new calls.