A method and apparatus for providing telephone call hand offs between a
local cordless service and a different wireless cellular service such as
a macro-cellular service. The local cordless service may be configured
such that a mobile telephone equipped subscriber may place or receive
calls for a fixed rate, for example, per month without having to pay
radio frequency air time charges any time they are located within their
selected subscribed-to zones. If the subscribed-to zones are adjacent to
one another and the mobile subscriber roams from one zone to another, the
subscriber may continue their free call uninterrupted and without paying
air time charges. However, when the subscriber roams outside their
subscribed-to zones they may be switched from the present local cordless
services to conventional personal communications services and pay air
time charges. However for an active call, no air-time charges are
incurred as the user transitions between the cellular/DPCS environment
and the local cordless service environment. Associated apparatus
comprises an IBS for automatically changing radio frequency channels as
the subscriber roams within a subscribed-to neighborhood zone, roams to
another subscribed-to zone or roams outside a subscribed-to zone.
Subscribers may choose to use their mobile identification number, their
current directory telephone number for wired public switched telephone
service or obtain a new directory number.