Abstract: A computer-implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a plurality of communication services of a unified messaging system to customize communication options pertaining to the communication services through either a telephony-centric network using a telephone or a data-centric network using a display terminal is disclosed. The computer implemented control center includes a subscriber communication profile database having therein an account pertaining to the subscriber. The account includes the communication options for the subscriber. The communication options include parameters associated with individual ones of the communication services and routings among the communication services. There is also included a computer server coupled to exchange data with the subscriber communication profile database.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for locally intercepting and servicing a long-distance call, prior to incurring charges associated with routing of the long-distance call over a corresponding long-distance carrier channel. A caller is immediately given the option to send a voicemail message to a recipient rather than completing the long-distance call. If the caller so chooses, the voicemail is recorded locally, the call is terminated, and the voicemail message is subsequently transmitted to the recipient via a data-centric network. The apparatus includes a telephony-centric network server and a message router. The telephony-centric network server detects initiation of the long-distance call, it intercepts the long-distance call, and it transmits the voicemail message over the data-centric network. The message router is coupled to the telephony-centric network server. The message router forwards the voicemail message over the data-centric network to a recipient.