STORAGE OF RADIO INFORMATION ON A REMOVABLE MEMORY

1 . A mobile station comprising:

at least one antenna;

an IM (identity module);

at least one wireless radio;

an RMDISRI (removable memory distinct from IM with stored radio information) receptacle;

one or a combination of:

a) hardware,

b) firmware, and

c) software stored in device memory in combination with one or more processors configured to run the software, is configured to determine if an RMDISRI is installed in said RMDISRI receptacle, and if it has been determined that there is an RMDISRI installed in said RMDISRI receptacle, make use of radio information stored on the RMDISRI.

2 . The mobile station of claim 1 further comprising:

an RMDISRI installed in said RMDISRI receptacle.

3 . The mobile station of claim 1 , wherein for radio information of a particular type is stored both on the RMDISRI and the IM, the mobile station is configured to use the information stored on the RMDISRI.

4 . The mobile station of claim 1 further comprising a device memory distinct from the IM and the RMDISRI;

wherein for radio information of a particular type that is stored both on the RMDISRI and the device memory, the mobile station is configured to use the information stored on the RMDISRI.

5 . The mobile station of claim 1 wherein the one or a combination of:

a) hardware,

b) firmware, and

c) software stored in device memory in combination with one or more processors to run the software,

is configured to update radio information by determining if an RMDISRI is installed in said RMDISRI receptacle, and it has been determined that there is an RMDISRI installed in said RMDISRI receptacle, store an update to the radio information stored on the RMDISRI.

6 . A method in a mobile station, the method comprising:

determining if an RMDISRI is installed in an RMDISRI receptacle; and

if it has been determined there is an RMDISRI installed in said RMDISRI receptacle, making use of radio information stored on the RMDISRI.

7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:

for radio information of a particular type that is stored both on the RMDISRI and a SIM, using the information stored on the RMDISRI.

8 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:

for radio information of a particular type that is stored both on the RMDISRI and a device memory, using the information stored on the RMDISRI.

9 . The method of claim 6 further comprising updating radio information by:

determining if an RMDISRI is installed in said RMDISRI receptacle;

upon determining there is an RMDISRI installed in said RMDISRI receptacle, storing an update to the radio information stored on the RMDISRI.

10 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

information identifying a last RAT (radio access technology) the mobile station de-attached.

11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising using the information identifying a last RAT the mobile station de-attached by starting scanning for the last RAT first any time a scan is to be performed.

12 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

some or all of EF-NETPAR (Elementary File—Network Parameters).

13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising using the EF-NETPAR stored on the RMDISRI rather than an EF-NETPAR stored on the IM.

14 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

information identifying the last N UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) frequencies used by the mobile station.

15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising using the information identifying the last N UMTS frequencies used by the mobile station by:

when scanning for UMTS, scanning using the information.

16 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

information based on past experience stored in association with a serving cell of interest.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising using the information based on past experience in association with a serving cell of interest by:

monitoring observable information to determine if it is consistent with the information based on past experience;

if monitored observable information is consistent with the information based on past experience, initiating or modifying scanning for the serving cell of interest.

18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the information based on past experience stored in association with a serving cell of interest comprises:

an observable pattern of detectable cells at a particular location.

19 . The method of claim 16 wherein the serving cell of interest is one of:

a femtocell;

a WiFi hotspot.

20 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

information based on past experience en route to a serving cell of interest.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising using information based on past experience en route to the serving cell of interest by:

monitoring observable information to determine if it is consistent with the information based on past experience en route to the serving cell of interest;

if monitored observable information is consistent with the information en route to the serving cell of interest, initiating or modifying scanning for the serving cell of interest.

22 . The method of claim 20 wherein the serving cell of interest is one of:

a femtocell;

a WiFi hotspot.

23 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

information that is determined based on user preferences or past history that can be used to help reduce scanning time.

24 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises:

EFs (elementary files) related to CSGs (closed subscriber groups).

25 . The method of claim 6 wherein the stored radio information comprises at least one of:

a white list of cells where registration was successful previously;

a black list of cells where registration was unsuccessful previously;

a white list of networks where registration was successful previously;

a black list of networks where registration was unsuccessful previously;

information identifying a last N systems and frequencies successfully connected to;

a femtocell blacklist;

a profile for access to at least one access technology;

a profile for access to at least one access technology wherein the at least one other technology comprises at least one of 802.11 and Bluetooth;

a profile for access to at least one access technology, wherein the profile for access to at least one technology comprises information based on past experience to help the mobile device find a particular network or cell of the at least one access technology more quickly;

unencrypted information that is also stored on the IM;

unencrypted information that is also stored on the IM, wherein the unencrypted information comprises a list of forbidden PLMNs;

location based information;

location based information comprising a location of at least one of a WiFi hotspot and a femtocell;

information identifying candidate cells for handoff from a particular cell.

26 . The method of claim 25 further comprising at least one of:

scanning based on at least one of the white list of cells, black list of cells, white list of networks, and black list of networks;

using the information identifying the last N systems and frequencies successfully connected to by searching for these frequencies first when turning the device on to obtain service more quickly;

using femtocell blacklist by refraining from or modifying scanning for the femtocell on the blacklist;

using the location based information to find the WiFi hotspot and/or femtocell faster the next time once in an area close to a location indicated by the location based information.

27 . A computer readable medium having stored executable instructions for execution by a wireless device to implement the method of claim 6 .