Abstract: A mobile terminal comprises transceiver apparatus for communicating with a plurality of wireless networks, each network comprising one or more respective wireless connection points providing a respective coverage area. The mobile terminal also comprises a location module arranged to determine information on geographical location of the mobile terminal, and based thereon to obtain a prediction that the mobile terminal will enter the coverage area of an expected one of said wireless networks. Further, the mobile terminal comprises a protocol module arranged to at least begin a pre-emptive handshake with the expected wireless network while still outside the respective coverage area and so unable to communicate any information via any of the one or more respective wireless connection points. It does this by instead performing some or all of the handshake with the expected network via another of said wireless networks.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a decision processing module arranged to determine whether a first mobile user terminal and a second mobile user terminal are within a relative geographic proximity of one another, in dependence on a property of intermediate network equipment of a packet-switched network to which the first and second mobile user terminals are operable to connect. The apparatus also comprises a location processing module arranged to obtain a geographic location of the second mobile user terminal and, on condition that the first and second user terminals are determined to be within the proximity determined by the decision module, to use the geographic location of the second mobile user terminal in estimating a geographic location of the first mobile user terminal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a first near-end terminal, the first near-end terminal being a mobile user terminal operable to establish voice or video calls with one or more far-end user terminals over a network. A detection module detects when the first near-end terminal is within a relative proximity of a second near-end terminal available to provide a call-related service in relation to one or more of the voice or video calls. A notification module outputs a notification to a user of the first near-end terminal based on said detection, notifying the user of the call-related service. In response to said detection, a configuration module is operable to store a configuration configuring the first near-end terminal as having the second near-end terminal identified for later provision of the call-related service.

Abstract: A mobile terminal, program and method for use in a communication system comprising a first, packet-based network and a plurality of wireless access networks providing access to the first network. The mobile terminal is configured to maintain a log of user habits in terms of past availability or use of one or more of the access networks, e.g. relative to time of day, week, month and/or year. The mobile terminal is further configured to control activation the transceiver to scan for subsequent availability of one or more of the wireless access networks, in dependence on the comparison of the one or more identified times with the current time. The mobile terminal switches between a first mode in which the scanning is controlled in dependence on the current geographical location of the mobile terminal, and a second mode in which the scanning is controlled in dependence on said log.

Abstract: A mobile terminal for use in a communication system comprising a first, packet-based network and a plurality of wireless access networks providing access to the first network. The mobile terminal comprises: one or more transceivers for connecting to the wireless access networks; and processing apparatus coupled to the one or more transceivers, operable to communicate with the first network by forming connections with the access networks using the one or more transceivers. The processing apparatus is configured to access a database recording motion information relating to motion of connection points of the wireless access networks; and the processing apparatus is further configured to determine one of the wireless access networks for use in accessing the first network, in dependence on the motion information accessed from the database relating to one or more of the wireless access networks.

Abstract: A mobile terminal comprising: a positioning module arranged to determine a geographical location of the mobile terminal; a local transceiver for connecting to local wireless access networks; and processing apparatus for communicating with a first, packet-based network by forming connections with the wireless local area networks using the local transceiver. The processing apparatus is configured to determine measures of connection quality experienced by the mobile terminal on ones of the connections, and to record the determined measures in a database associating measures of connection quality with geographical locations.

Abstract: A mobile terminal comprising: a positioning module for determining a geographical location of the mobile terminal; one or more transceivers for connecting to wireless access networks; and processing apparatus for communicating with the first network using the one or more transceivers. The processing apparatus is configured to access a database recording geographical location information relating to a plurality of the wireless access networks, wherein the database also records pricing information relating to cost of connecting with at least some of the plurality of wireless access networks for communication with the first network. The processing apparatus is configured to determine one of the wireless access networks for use in accessing the first network, from amongst the available ones of the wireless access networks, in dependence on the geographical location information and the pricing information accessed from the database.