Patent ID: 7920486

Claim:
A method in a mobile communication device for use in establishing communications with a communications application, the method comprising the following acts which are performed upon invocation of the communications application when the mobile communication device is connected in a communication network outside of a private network: causing a request for a virtual private network (VPN) connection with the private network to be communicated from the mobile communication device; while the mobile communication device is connected in the communication network and the request for the VPN connection is pending: if the VPN connection is established within a predetermined period of time: receiving a private IP address of the private network for assignment to the mobile communication device, and causing a request for registration using the private IP address to be communicated to a registration server for the private network; if the VPN connection is not established within the predetermined period of time: causing a request for registration using a public IP address assigned to the mobile communication device to be communicated to a registration server for the communication network; and after registration with the registration server, causing communications of the communications application to be established.