In a network supporting concurrent services, mobile terminated call delivery processing is simplified by an apparatus and method for forcing a Mobile Station (MS) (118) to register with a new Mobile Switching Center (MSC) (110) after a hard handoff has occurred. The mobile station registers with the new MSC when the mobile station is in an active data call, but not in an active voice call. The method momentarily sends the data session to dormant mode while the mobile station performs location updating. The method utilizes a new information element in a Clear Command message that allows the MSC to indicate to the Base Station Controller (112) that the period a data session must remain dormant should be very brief. This brief period of time limits the impact on the MS user.