Abstract: A multimedia transaction between a local and a remote transaction systems (10 and 12) is facilitated by a multimedia interface (16) within each system. The multimedia interface (16) associated with each transaction system serves to signal a telephone (18, 20) associated with the other transaction system to go off hook while the transaction systems are exchanging data when a voice conversation between the transaction systems is desired. Further, the multimedia interface (16) serves to convert the analog speech from the telephone of its associated transaction system into digital voice packets for transmission with the digital signals to the other the transaction system. Also, each multimedia interface converts the digital voice packets received at its associated transaction system from the other transaction system into analog voice information for receipt at the associate telephone.

Abstract: A method and system for industry and group-specific calling within a telecommunication system. The method of the present invention includes the steps of receiving, in a carrier network, a call initiated by dialing a group number from a caller terminal; accessing a database in the carrier network to determine an announcement corresponding to the group number; providing the announcement to the caller terminal to prompt a caller to select one of the group members associated with the dialed group number; interpreting a selection command received from the caller to determine a member number of a selected group member; establishing a connection between the network and a member terminal corresponding to the selected member number; and connecting the call from the caller terminal to the selected member terminal. The caller may terminate the connection between the network and the member terminal, and select a connection to other group members, without dialing any additional numbers.

Abstract: The utility of 800 service telephone calls is enhanced by associating an 800 service telephone number with a number of different prefixes other than the prefix of one. In this way the caller may control to a certain degree certain aspects in the processing of an associated 800 service call. For example, a caller may specify a grade of service or the routing for the associated 800 service call.