Methods and apparatus for use in switching communication operations between a wireless wide area network and a wireless local area network

Methods and apparatus for use by a mobile communication device in switching operation for communications from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN) are disclosed. While providing operation for communications in the WWAN, the mobile device continually maintains visited-cell site history information, in its memory, indicative of one or more visited cell sites of the WWAN that served the mobile device over a moving time period, and continually monitors the site history information to identify whether it has been contained within a local geographic region over the moving time period. If it has, it is permitted to operate for communications with the WLAN. In response to such permission, the mobile device may enable its WLAN radio transceiver and select the WLAN for communications. The WLAN radio transceiver is, thus, enabled only when needed, which reduces power consumption and saves battery life in mobile device.