INTER-EXCHANGE CARRIER SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

In a radio telecommunications network (10), a system and method of allowing inter-exchange long-distance carrier selection to a caller is provided. The system includes a mobile terminal (22), a serving mobile switching center (S-MSC) (18) for serving the mobile terminal, and a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) (14) for receiving an incoming call from a caller for the mobile terminal. The system also includes at least one inter-exchange carrier (IXC) (35, 37) allowing communication between the S-MSC and the G-MSC, a roaming detector (24) for detecting a roaming condition of the mobile terminal, and a charging module (26) for informing the caller of the roaming condition of the mobile terminal. The method begins by receiving at the G-MSC an incoming call placed by a caller to a mobile terminal served by the S-MSC, determining the IXC associated with the caller, and detecting a roaming condition associated with the mobile terminal. The method continues by informing the caller about the roaming condition, determining whether the caller accepts roaming charges associated with the roaming condition and completing the call between the G-MSC and the S-MSC on the IXC if the caller accepted the roaming charges.