Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a data protocol telephone that is used in a call for exchanging voice information between a first party human user of the data protocol telephone and a second human party to the call at least partially through the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing a call through the public switched telephone network. The method includes the steps of sending a call request for a switched circuit connection between a telephone call contractor and a called party, the call request being sent from the call contractor to a local switching office of the public switched telephone network in the context where said call contractor has contracted with a third party to call the called party and sending an identifier of the third party along with the call request as a source identifier of the call request, said source identifier of the third party being different than the call contractor and also different than the called party, the call request source identifier being sent along with the connection request instead of an identifier of the call contractor that requested the connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a data protocol telephone that is used in a call for exchanging voice information between a first party human user of the data protocol telephone and a second human party to the call at least partially through the Internet.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution system and method for using same including an automatic call distributor, an answer detector and an introductory signal generator which generates introductory signals to be sent towards a called party while the answer detector employed by the automatic call distribution center is monitoring for the presence of the called party. When a call that is dialed to the called party by the automatic call distribution system is answered by an external telephonic unit of the called party, the automatic call distribution system couples an answer detector to the call. The answer detector of the automatic call distribution system monitors the call for the presence of the called party while concomitantly sending a generated and coupled introductory signal towards the called party to be heard by the called party. Preferably, the generated introductory signal simulates background noise.