A method for efficient battery usage in for portable devices. The method includes a service provider receiving a communication associated with a first device and a second device, wherein one of the first device and the second device is a sender of the communication and the other of the first device and the second device is an intended recipient of the communication. The service provider then determines that the first device is operating in an energy saving mode. The service provider may also determine that an emergency communication override feature for the first device has not been enabled. Upon determining that the first mobile device is operating in an energy saving mode and that an emergency communication override feature for the first device has not been enabled, the service provider determines not to send the communication to the intended recipient of the communication.