A unified approach multi-mode system selection is provided for a mobile device implementing multiple multi-mode system selection (MMSS). Different system operators may provide their own MMSS databases and rules in different frameworks. To allow a mobile device to perform MMSS without modifying its software, the different databases may be mapped into a common database. In one example, an MMSS solution is implemented that uses a Preferred Roaming List (PRL) database according to a 3GPP2 system selection to specify the prioritization of 3GPP and 3GPP2 systems the mobile device. When the mobile device is powered up, the information in the different MMSS databases is mapped into a common database (“PRL with PLMN records”). The wireless communication device then acts on this information in the common database to perform system selection.