Abstract: A method for permitting mobile stations in idle mode to select a cell based on services provided by the cell. Network control of service based selection is regulated by a new broadcast parameter broadcasting whether a particular cell will allow service based cell selection.

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: An apparatus (304) for scanning among a plurality of channels in a radio communication system (300) includes receive circuitry (310) and control circuitry (312). The receive circuitry (310) is capable of being tuned to any one of the plurality of channels and measures reception strength of the tuned channel. The control circuitry (312) controls the receive circuitry (310) to scan through all of the plurality of channels one at a time. The control circuitry (312) stores a first reading of a measured reception strength of the tuned channel before powering off the receive circuitry (310). The control circuitry (312) stores a second reading of a measured reception strength of the tuned channel after powering the receive circuitry (310) back on.