Methods and apparatus for selecting a cellular network to provide one or
more communication services for a mobile communication device are
disclosed. A scanning operation is performed by the mobile device to
identify a plurality of cellular networks that support a voice
communication service in a geographic coverage area. The mobile device
then identifies which of the cellular networks makes a data communication
service available to it. Advantageously, the mobile device assigns
priority to or selects a cellular network that makes the data
communication service available over a network that fails to make the
data communication service available, and may register with that network.
The data communication service may include, as examples, an e-mail
communication service or an Internet access service. Preferably, the
cellular network operates in accordance with GSM (Global System for
Mobile) and GPRS (Generalized Packet Radio Service).
