Pager capable of operating in multiple paging systems

A pager (400) capable of operating in a plurality of paging systems (210, 212, and 214) includes a receiver (404) for receiving information messages which include idle words from one of the paging systems. Upon receiving the information messages the pager (400) decodes the information messages in order to determine the system identification information contained in the idle word. The pager (400) then compares the decoded system identification information with the unique paging system identification number presently being utilized by the pager (400). If the system identification information matches the unique paging system identification number presently being utilized by the pager, the pager (400) remains in the present paging system. If the data does not match, the pager uses controller (410) to determine if any of the stored sets of system configuration parameters which are each associated with a unique paging system identification number matches the decoded system identification information. If a match is found, the controller (410) automatically changes the system configuration parameters to match those associated with the new paging system identification number.