Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the problem of providing information about a called subscriber's status in a mobile communications system, and more particularly to the problem that occurs when a caller is unable to determine whether the subscriber being called is either out of the service area or has merely switched off his mobile phone. A new parameter MSSTATUS is given which will indicate the status of a Mobile Station as ready to receive a call, MSSTATUS=ZOK, powered off as in an IMSI detach, MSSTATUS=ZIMSIDETACH, or out of the coverage area, MSSTATUS=ZIMPLICITDETACH. A message will then be given to the caller which may provide a more detailed description of the status of the subscriber being called.