Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a message to a user comprising means for communicating with service providers and means for communicating with device agents operating on respective user devices, wherein the service provider communicating means is configured to receive a request to communicate with a specified user and to selectively output a message for the user to said device agent communicating means and wherein the device agent communicating means is configured to maintain a list of connected device agents, to receive information, from one of said connected device agents, for identifying a preferred device agent for sending a message to the user, to store information for identifying the preferred device agent and to transmit the message to the preferred device agent.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network short dialling codes for a subscriber terminal are programmed by another party, and the allocation of codes is communicated to the user. An audio announcement played as part of the dial tone may be used to communication the allocation of codes.

Abstract: A computer telephony interface includes both first party and third party call components. A telephony server is arranged to control one or more of plural network nodes and has a control interface having a call model and call components for (a) at least one first party call and (b) at least one third party call. First and third party call components are linked to a single call model.

Abstract: In a call centre connected via a network to a number of terminals, at least part of a process of automatic call distribution (ACD) is carried out at the terminals.