1. A method for selecting a communication system for acquisition by a subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:(a) receiving from a first communication system a single system identification code indicative of the system identity of said first communication system; and (b) referring to a table previously stored within the subscriber station to determine, based on said single system identification code, at least one other communication system, having a different system identification code than said received system identification code and which operates in a same geographical region as said first communication system.', '(a) receiving from a first communication system a single system identification code indicative of the system identity of said first communication system; and', '(b) referring to a table previously stored within the subscriber station to determine, based on said single system identification code, at least one other communication system, having a different system identification code than said received system identification code and which operates in a same geographical region as said first communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said at least one other communication system comprises the steps of:(a) comparing said received system identification code to a list of system identification codes stored in said subscriber station, each of said stored system identification codes having an associated stored geographical region indicator; and (b) identifying said at least one other communication system having a same associated stored geographical region indicator as said received system identification code.', '(a) comparing said received system identification code to a list of system identification codes stored in said subscriber station, each of said stored system identification codes having an associated stored geographical region indicator; and', '(b) identifying said at least one other communication system having a same associated stored geographical region indicator as said received system identification code.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said list of system identification codes stored in said subscriber station is sequentially ordered in accordance with a set of predefined user preferences.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:(a) comparing said received system identification code with a first subset of preferred system identification codes having said same associated stored geographical region indicator as said received system identification code; and (b) providing service using said first communication system when said received system identification code is of said first subset of preferred system identification codes.', '(a) comparing said received system identification code with a first subset of preferred system identification codes having said same associated stored geographical region indicator as said received system identification code; and', '(b) providing service using said first communication system when said received system identification code is of said first subset of preferred system identification codes.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:(a) selecting an alternative system from said first subset of preferred system identification codes; and (b) attempting acquisition upon said alternative system when said received system identification code is not of said first subset of preferred system identification codes.', '(a) selecting an alternative system from said first subset of preferred system identification codes; and', '(b) attempting acquisition upon said alternative system when said received system identification code is not of said first subset of preferred system identification codes.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing service using said alternative system when said acquisition attempt is successful.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:(a) selecting a second alternative system having said same associated stored geographical region indicator as said received system identification code when said acquisition attempt is unsuccessful; and (b) attempting to acquire said second alternative system.', '(a) selecting a second alternative system having said same associated stored geographical region indicator as said received system identification code when said acquisition attempt is unsuccessful; and', '(b) attempting to acquire said second alternative system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving said system identification code from said first communication system comprises the steps of:(a) selecting an initial system to acquire; (b) attempting to acquire said initial system; and (c) receiving said system identification code from said first communication system when said acquisition attempt is successful.', '(a) selecting an initial system to acquire;', '(b) attempting to acquire said initial system; and', '(c) receiving said system identification code from said first communication system when said acquisition attempt is successful.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:(a) selecting an alternative system upon which to attempt acquisition when said acquisition attempt is unsuccessful; and (b) attempting acquisition upon said alternative system.', '(a) selecting an alternative system upon which to attempt acquisition when said acquisition attempt is unsuccessful; and', '(b) attempting acquisition upon said alternative system

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of selecting an alternative system upon which to attempt acquisition is determined in accordance with a set of most recently used systems

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of selecting an alternative system upon which to attempt acquisition is determined in accordance with a set of systems which have faster expected acquisition than others in said list of system identification codes

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of selecting an alternative system upon which to attempt acquisition is determined in accordance with a set of systems which have acquisition parameters common to a plurality of other systems

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:acquiring a signal from a base station belonging to said first communication system in accordance with acquisition parameters retrieved from a most recently used (MRU) table; and receiving said identification code from an overhead message transmitted by said base station.', 'acquiring a signal from a base station belonging to said first communication system in accordance with acquisition parameters retrieved from a most recently used (MRU) table; and', 'receiving said identification code from an overhead message transmitted by said base station.']