Virtual addressing to support wireless access to data networks

In a telephony communication system, a mobile device requests access to packet-based networks using network access requests that identify access point names associated with these networks. The mobile devices and gateways providing access to the networks support the use of virtual access point names within network access requests. These virtual access point names need not correspond to any existing networks. Rather, network access requests incorporating virtual access point names indicate actually requested access point names within other fields of the network access requests.