Abstract: A telephone system and method is provided including a processing system, such as a CTI system, in communication with a PBX and one or more telephone sets. The user selects a pre-programmed canned message, such as a DND message or status-state, from a list of messages and may further define the message with a user-defined message. The PBX recognizes the canned message and funnels the message to the processing system. The processing system matches the canned message and possibly the user-defined message to a software application stored in the processing system and corresponding to the messages. The user may program the software application to perform a specific function which may be stored in the processing system. The software application is launched and the telephone can be returned to a normal operating state regardless of whether the launched application has completed the intended task.