A method for operating a mobile node, wherein the node (1) has such a dual functionality that it can be operated in a mobile radio network (2) working with optimized area coverage, preferably a 3GPP network, as well as in a wireless local area network (WLAN) (3), preferably a WLAN according to IEEE 802.11 standard, and wherein the node (1) can change in the context of a vertical handover from one network (2;3) to another network (3;2) is with regard to a possibly smooth handover where the loss of packets is minimized as far as possible, and where the continuity of services maximize characterized in that that two thresholds (4, 5) are defined for the WLAN signal strength received at the node (1), wherein in case of exceeding the first threshold (4) a change to the WLAN (3) and in case of falling below the second threshold (5) a change back to the mobile radio (2) network is performed.