A method for data transfer initiation for a wireless device capable of operating in discontinuous reception mode comprising: receiving a measurement report configuration, the measurement report configuration including at least one measurement report configuration parameter based upon which the wireless device is to determine whether to send a measurement report; monitoring a channel condition of a handover candidate cell while in a sleep cycle of the discontinuous reception mode; determining that the channel condition of the handover candidate cell has exceeded a handover threshold value (120, 128); awaking from the sleep cycle; while awake from the sleep cycle: sending the measurement report to the serving cell in response to a determination that the measurement report is to be sent, the determination being based upon the at least one measurement report configuration parameter and the measurement report indicating that the handover threshold value has been exceeded by the handover candidate cell; and after transmission of the measurement report, determining a received pending data indicator (124, 132) the pending data indicator indicating that the serving cell has data to send to the wireless device; and remaining awake to receive data (126, 134) associated with the pending data indicator from the serving cell prior to a handover of the wireless device to the handover candidate cell. receiving a measurement report configuration, the measurement report configuration including at least one measurement report configuration parameter based upon which the wireless device is to determine whether to send a measurement report; monitoring a channel condition of a handover candidate cell while in a sleep cycle of the discontinuous reception mode; determining that the channel condition of the handover candidate cell has exceeded a handover threshold value (120, 128); awaking from the sleep cycle; while awake from the sleep cycle: sending the measurement report to the serving cell in response to a determination that the measurement report is to be sent, the determination being based upon the at least one measurement report configuration parameter and the measurement report indicating that the handover threshold value has been exceeded by the handover candidate cell; and after transmission of the measurement report, determining a received pending data indicator (124, 132) the pending data indicator indicating that the serving cell has data to send to the wireless device; and sending the measurement report to the serving cell in response to a determination that the measurement report is to be sent, the determination being based upon the at least one measurement report configuration parameter and the measurement report indicating that the handover threshold value has been exceeded by the handover candidate cell; and after transmission of the measurement report, determining a received pending data indicator (124, 132) the pending data indicator indicating that the serving cell has data to send to the wireless device; and remaining awake to receive data (126, 134) associated with the pending data indicator from the serving cell prior to a handover of the wireless device to the handover candidate cell.