Method and apparatus for automatically selecting an outbound-call modality

A portable electronic device has a plurality of different outbound-call modalities. By one approach this device includes a control circuit configured to automatically select use of a particular one of the outbound-call modalities when initiating a particular call to a particular party. This automatic selection can be based, in whole or in part, upon locally-stored information and/or remotely-accessed information. By one approach the locally-stored information comprises information regarding first evaluation criteria by which relative appropriateness of using a given one of the outbound-call modalities is determined. By one approach the remotely-accessed information comprises information regarding second evaluation criteria by which relative appropriateness of using a given one of the outbound-call modalities is determined.