Processing of called party status information

In a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks 4, 10, a first message is sent via the telecommunication network containing a request originated by a first user equipment 2 requesting status information relating to a second user equipment 8 and a second message is received via the telecommunication network conveying the requested status information. At least one of the first and second messages are processed using a service component 6, 12 which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks, such as a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client. This provides an efficient means of accessing and communicating the status information. In a second embodiment the status information may for example enable a caller to avoid an inconvenient alert to a called party. Generation of an alert for a called user may be delayed depending on a status indicator relating to the called user equipment, allowing the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call before the generation of an alert at the called user equipment.