A mobile terminal and an operation mode switching method for a mobile terminal communication system are provided, the mobile terminal comprising at least a communication processor, wherein an operation mode in which the communication processor performs only a communication function is defined as a communication mode and an operation mode in which the communication processor performs both the communication function and an application function is defined as an application mode, the method comprising the following steps of acquiring, in the application mode, switching trigger information; and controlling the communication processor to switch from the application mode to the communication mode based on the switching trigger information. Also, in the communication mode, the system can also acquire switching information and switch from the communication mode to the application mode. The switching approach according to the present invention enables the communication processor to operate in the communication mode for performing the communication function only. Thus, the application function of the communication processor is not required to be started at all times, such that the occupation for the system resources as well as the system power consumption can be reduced.