Abstract: In a mobile station (MS) of a cellular radiotelephone system, a method of searching for the MS's home public land mobile network (HPLMN) when the MS is camped on a non-HPLMN. The method is performed in thirty second intervals while the MS is already in its receive ready (higher current-drawing) state. The method performs strategic measurements of the receive signal level in order to determine if it is likely that the HPLMN has become available again. If the probability is high that the HPLMN has become available, further data is gathered on the likely available channel. Once the channel is identified, the MS begins the camping procedure to register on the HPLMN.

Abstract: A system and method of communications usage management for multiple networked devices such as cellular telephones in a telecommunications network. A management database is provided for storing communications attributes for at least one networked device. The stored communications usage attributes serve as criteria for regulating access of the networked devices to the system. The users of the devices may purchase a quantity of transferable units, such as usage minutes over the system network, with the units being redeemable for goods and/or services on the system, thus facilitating transfer of units between users. A user interface is provided as a system management device for accessing the management database to configure the communications usage attributes for defining the transfer and usage criteria. Communications usage software operable with the network devices computes usage times to provide an accounting of usage and regulation in accordance with the management database.