Abstract: A call-placement service is provided for a cable television set top box (STB). The STB is interconnected to a television display and via a cable link to a server at a cable television provider head end. The STB includes an onboard application that presents a menu to the subscriber allowing access to a list of telephone numbers and downloadable content providers. The head end includes a service application that selects an appropriate telephone provider and transmits the telephone numbers to the provider. The telephone provider connects to the subscriber and detects whether the subscriber can receive an SMS message. If so, the provider connects to the target and detects whether the target can accept the call or send an SMS message. If so, the telephone system connects the call between the subscriber and the target of passes an SMS message to the user's that may contain a link for content download.