A mobile station scans for electromagnetic signals representing control channels of the public wireless system and the private wireless system. The mobile station measures a received signal parameter of at least one of the scanned control channels. The hybrid communications network may transfer the mobile station's service from the public wireless system to the private wireless system, if the measured signal parameter meets or exceeds a private target. Alternately, the hybrid communications system may transfer service from the private wireless system to the public wireless system, if the measured signal parameter meets or exceeds a public target. A service control point maintains a central database of user profiles updated in response to the transferring procedure. A service node redirects a data message for the mobile station through the public wireless system or through the private wireless system, as facilitated by the central database, to deliver the data message to the mobile station during its operation on an active one of the wireless systems.