Intelligent scanning system and method for walkie-talkie devices

A method in a communications device for scanning for audio transmissions, comprising:

• generating by the communications device a priority list of channels to coordinate the order of scanning of channels;
• tuning by the communications device to a currently active highest priority channel out of the priority list of channels that currently has an incoming audio transmission;
• while tuned to the currently active highest priority channel and playing back the incoming audio transmission:
• continually scanning by the communications device remaining channels from the priority list of channels having a priority higher than the currently active highest priority channel for new incoming audio transmissions;
• and
• if a new incoming audio transmission is detected on a particular one of the remaining channels, providing a notification of the detection of the new incoming audio transmission on the particular one of the remaining channels;
• and
• responsive to receiving a corresponding user input, switching to the particular one of the remaining channels and playing back the new incoming audio transmission.