Abstract: Communication apparatus (22) includes a packet network interface (62), for coupling to a packet switch (28) in a packet network (24), and a telephone network interface (63), for coupling to a node (54) in a circuit-switched telephone network (26). A convergence processor (66) is coupled between the packet network and telephone network interfaces and adapted to emulate a mobile switching center (MSC) and a visitor location register (VLR) in the circuit-switched telephone network so as to assign telephone numbers in the circuit-switched telephone network to user terminals (30, 32, 34, 38) in the packet network and to connect telephone calls, using the assigned telephone numbers, between telephones (42) in the circuit-switched network and the user terminals.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual multi-line (VML) telephone service includes associating first and second telephone numbers with a telephone, such that the first telephone number is subject to a first billing scheme and the second number is subject to a second billing scheme. A control code is transmitted from the telephone to a network switch, indicating a choice of one of the first and second telephone numbers. Upon receiving a request to connect a call from the telephone to a destination number, the call is connected using one of the first and second telephone numbers while applying one of the first and second billing schemes to the call in accordance with the choice indicated by the control code.

Abstract: A method for collecting information from a user of a telephone includes receiving a request at a switch in a telephone network to open a voice call from the telephone to a specified telephone number. Responsively to the request, a voice call is initiated by opening a first leg of a connection from the switch to the telephone, and a second leg of the connection from the switch to a peripheral device. The second leg is disconnected after initiating the voice call, while leaving the first leg of the connection open. After disconnecting the second leg, signals are received over the first leg of the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone.