The present invention provides a method for performing inter-technology
handovers of a communication unit between a first Radio Access Network
(RAN) and a second RAN. The communication unit includes a single
transceiver. An inter-RAN tunnel is established between the first RAN and
the second RAN. When the communication unit determines that it may be
moving out of the service area of the first RAN, the communication unit
sends a handover request message to the first RAN. The handover request
message includes a request for a second RAN that the communication unit
can communicate with. The communication unit is then able to perform some
handover communication with the second RAN prior to actually handing off
to the second RAN, by utilizing the inter-RAN tunnel between the first
RAN and the second RAN.