Method for providing service and rate negotiation in a mobile communication system

A method of negotiating a service configuration in a communication system in which a first communication device originates a communication service with a second communication device, said communication system having at least one dedicated channel which is not shared by communication devices in said communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, from said first communication device, an information data signal over said dedicated channel;
• receiving, at said second communication device, said transmitted information data signal;
• generating, in said first communication device, a request message indicative of a proposed service configuration;
• multiplexing, in said first communication device, said request message with said information data signal to produce a multiplexed signal allowing both the request message and the information data to be concurrently transmitted;
• transmitting said multiplexed signal over said dedicated channel;
• receiving said multiplexed signal at said second communication device;
• determining, in said second communication device, whether said proposed service configuration is acceptable to said second communication device;
• generating, in said second communication device, a response message in accordance with said determination;
• and
• transmitting said response message over said dedicated channel.