Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a collect call originated through a packet based network is provided. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a system is described that facilitates voice communication between a calling party and a party to be called while the costs of the communication session are charged to the called party. In one embodiment, the called party is queried as to whether they wish to accept the costs associated with the pending voice communication session, prior to the two parties being placed in voice communication with each other.

Abstract: A system is described including services for generating an electronic offer to participate in a voice communication session with a destination party, with the offer being contingent upon the satisfaction of a set of one or more offeror-stipulated conditions. The system further including services for receiving an indication from an offeree via a data network indicating acceptance of the offer and establishing the voice communication session between the offeree and the destination party in conformance with at least a subset of the one or more offeror-stipulated conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a voice call to a PSTN extension for a networked client computer, and routing the voice call off of the network, is provided. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services for facilitating establishment of the voice call to the PSTN extension, and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions. The set of communication services include services for receiving a Push-To-Talk™ request from the networked client computer, requesting the voice call, and in response, determining the PSTN extension. The Push-To-Talk™ request includes identification information of an originating web server of the Push-To-Talk™ option, and the determination of the PSTN extension is made in accordance with the originating web server's identification information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a networked client computer, and routing the voice call off of the network, is provided. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services for facilitating establishment of the voice call to the PSTN extension, and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions. The set of communication services include services for soliciting inputs from one or more other apparatuses on one or more operating characteristics associated with the establishment and support of the voice call to the PSTN extension, and selecting one of the solicited apparatuses to place the voice call to the PSTN extension.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions and an execution unit is presented. The execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, executes the plurality of programming instructions to implement a hierarchy of collaboration services enabling collaboration between a client computer and a collaboration partner, including a service to determine the system attributes of the client computer and to select an appropriate collaboration service from the hierarchy of collaboration services commensurate with the determined system attributes of the client computer and enabling a collaboration session between the client computer and the collaboration partner.

Abstract: An apparatus is comprised of a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services for establishing and supporting a direct quality voice call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions. In particular, the set of communication services include services for establishing and facilitating the voice call to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer, and services for causing a direct connection to be established between the client computer and the apparatus.

Abstract: Advertisement consumption activities of a user are monitored. The user is credited with telephony service credits in accordance with observed advertisement consumption activities. In turn, telephony service for the user is facilitated. The facilitation is based at least in part on the amount of telephony service credits credited to the user.

Abstract: In accordance with a method and apparatus for synchronizing information browsing among multiple systems, a bridgeport system receives identifiers for data requests received in a first hardware system and automatically transmits the identifier of the requested data to one or more additional hardware systems. Each of these one or more additional hardware systems then retrieves the identified data, thereby keeping the data being provided in these hardware systems in synchronization.