A system for providing low-power operation in a multimode communication device, the system comprising: at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) that is adapted to communicate in a plurality of communication modes and operate in at least a first power-save mode; and at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) that is adapted to: determine whether a first communication network corresponding to a first communication mode of the plurality of communication modes might be available by analyzing at least one non-informational signal characteristic; determine, based at least in part, on the determined availability of the first communication network, whether to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in a respective mode other than the first power-save mode to communicate with the first communication network; determine whether a second communication network corresponding to a second communication mode of the plurality of communication modes might be available by analyzing at least one non-informational signal characteristic; determine, based at least in part, on the determined availability of the second communication network, whether to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in a respective mode other than the first power-save mode to communicate with the second communication network; and determine to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in an operating mode based, at least in part, on communication quality expected in communicating with the first or second communication network. at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) that is adapted to communicate in a plurality of communication modes and operate in at least a first power-save mode; and at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) that is adapted to: determine whether a first communication network corresponding to a first communication mode of the plurality of communication modes might be available by analyzing at least one non-informational signal characteristic; determine, based at least in part, on the determined availability of the first communication network, whether to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in a respective mode other than the first power-save mode to communicate with the first communication network; determine whether a second communication network corresponding to a second communication mode of the plurality of communication modes might be available by analyzing at least one non-informational signal characteristic; determine, based at least in part, on the determined availability of the second communication network, whether to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in a respective mode other than the first power-save mode to communicate with the second communication network; and determine to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in an operating mode based, at least in part, on communication quality expected in communicating with the first or second communication network. determine whether a first communication network corresponding to a first communication mode of the plurality of communication modes might be available by analyzing at least one non-informational signal characteristic; determine, based at least in part, on the determined availability of the first communication network, whether to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in a respective mode other than the first power-save mode to communicate with the first communication network; determine whether a second communication network corresponding to a second communication mode of the plurality of communication modes might be available by analyzing at least one non-informational signal characteristic; determine, based at least in part, on the determined availability of the second communication network, whether to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in a respective mode other than the first power-save mode to communicate with the second communication network; and determine to operate the at least one radio module (110, 210, 310, 410) in an operating mode based, at least in part, on communication quality expected in communicating with the first or second communication network.