System and method for providing group calling in a wireless network

A communication device configured:

• to receive a request to participate a group call from a mobile device located in a wireless service area;
• to determine whether a threshold number of other mobile devices in the wireless service area are participating in the group call;
• to designate the requesting mobile device to receive a multicast transmission of the group call, if the threshold number of the other mobile devices are participating in the group call;
• and
• to designate the requesting mobile device for a unicast of the group call if the threshold number of the other mobile devices are not participating in the group call.

A method comprising:

• transmitting information to a mobile device over a multicast channel;
• detecting a degradation in transmission quality of the group call;
• establishing a unicast connection to the mobile device;
• and
• transmitting the group call to the mobile device over the unicast channel.

A method comprising:

• receiving a registration from a mobile device in a first wireless service area, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive a group call in a second wireless service area over a multicast channel;
• determining whether the registration created a new multicast set for the second wireless service area;
• and
• if the registration did create a new multicast set, establishing a multicast channel in the second wireless service area.