Methods, devices, and systems can include, for example, receiving an incoming call and identification information and determining whether the identification information indicates that the incoming call is legitimate. The identification information is associated with the incoming call. The incoming call is received at a call control unit. The call control unit is associated with a telephone, and the incoming call is directed to the telephone. In response to a determination that the identification information indicates that the incoming call is legitimate, generating an indication that the incoming call is legitimate (where the indication is generated by the call control unit) and communicating the indication that the incoming call is legitimate to the telephone. In response to a determination that the identification information indicates that the incoming call is not legitimate, determining a telephone number of the incoming call and communicating the telephone number and the identification information to a server.

Endpoints, such as telephones, on a communication network may request an interactive communication with another endpoint. While the request is being processed, the calling endpoint may receive a call from the called endpoint. Systems and methods are provided that automatically allow one endpoint to accept the incoming call, such as by joining the two calls, and terminating their outbound call. As a result, endpoints attempting to call each other may be connected with a single call without requiring any endpoint to be routed to voicemail due to their called endpoint being busy. Additionally, arbitration rules may be provided to resolve any “race condition” where both endpoints would otherwise each accept or each decline their incoming call.

A Toll-Free Management Platform (TFMP) includes methods and systems for number administration, customer administration, call management services, texting services and text registry, and a smart services registry. The TFMP may allow users to receive through a web-based interface, an activate request from a user, wherein the request includes at least a customer record template reference and an indication of when to active a toll-free telecommunications number associated with the request. The request may include at least one IP address datum associated with the toll-free telecommunications number. A user interface may allow activating a toll-free number, and users may access the TFMP to create and access existing templates of toll-free call routing templates, and utilize a routing tree engine to create customized call routing trees for the toll-free numbers of interest to the user.

An activation device includes a wireless communication interface, an activation circuitry, and a trigger device. The wireless communication interface is configured to communicate with a mobile phone in a personal area network. The activation circuitry is configured to generate a signal for activating the mobile phone. The trigger device is configured to receive an input from a user. When the trigger device receives the input from the user, the activation circuitry is caused to generate the signal, and the wireless communication interface is configured to send the signal to the mobile phone, causing the mobile phone to pass the call request to a call service, which is in turn caused to generate a call, calling the mobile phone.

Certain aspects of the disclosure are directed to control of data communications services. According to a specific example, an apparatus is provided including one or more computer processor circuits configured and arranged to interface with remotely-situated client entities using a first programming language used by a data communications server, and to provide a database of communications services to the client entities. The apparatus further includes communications control circuitry configured and arranged to control communications routing for each respective client entity, by identifying, client-specific sets of control data derived from programming instructions received over a network and corresponding to a second programming language that is compatible with the first programming language, and providing the communications services to end-users of the client entity based on the client-specific sets of control data including particular routing functions for emergency notifications.

An example method comprising receiving a plurality of categories of availability statuses, receiving a plurality of categories of different contact groups, identifying, for each contact, at least one contact group, receiving a plurality of rules for call handling, each of the plurality of rules being associated with at least one of the different availability statuses and at least one of the different contact groups, receiving a telephone call from a first caller, identifying a caller identifier of the first caller, determining a contact group of the first caller, determining a current availability status of the recipient, identifying an applicable rule based on the contact group of the first caller and the current availability status of the recipient, selecting an audio prompt based on the applicable rule, and presenting the audio prompt to the first caller based on the applicable rule, the audio prompt indicating a preference of communication.

An example method comprising receiving a plurality of categories of availability statuses, receiving a plurality of categories of different contact groups, identifying, for each contact, at least one contact group, receiving a plurality of rules for call handling, each of the plurality of rules being associated with at least one of the different availability statuses and at least one of the different contact groups, receiving a telephone call from a first caller, identifying a caller identifier of the first caller, determining a contact group of the first caller, determining a current availability status of the recipient, identifying an applicable rule based on the contact group of the first caller and the current availability status of the recipient, selecting an audio prompt based on the applicable rule, and presenting the audio prompt to the first caller based on the applicable rule, the audio prompt indicating a preference of communication.

This disclosure provides methods, systems, services, and platforms for automatically prompting a user of a mobile device to follow an entity on a social media network after a triggering event. This disclosure enables Mobile Network Operators to generate more followers on social media, and, thereby, connect better with potential customers or fans. When a business, group, or other entity has an active social media campaign, a message comprising instructions to launch a browser on a mobile device and navigate to the entity's social media page is sent automatically after a triggering event occurs.

The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for customizing an inmate communication notification. Such a system provides an inmate different customized notification messages to be played to different called parties. The system includes a list of different contacts, and each of the contacts can be associated with one or more contact numbers. Each contact number is associated with one or more customized notification messages. The customized notification messages include terms, phrases, and sentences that draw the called party's attention and sound familiar to the called party. The customized notification messages include customized text files, audio files, and video files. An inmate chooses one or more customized notification messages to be played to a called party.

An assisted user's (AU's) captioning device for assisting an AU during a call with a hearing user (HU) wherein the hearing user uses a HU's communication device, the captioning device comprising a display screen and a processor linked to the display screen, the processor programmed to perform the steps of upon receiving a call, automatically determining if the call is from one of a first set of HUs, upon determining that the call is from one of the first set of HUs, automatically initiating captioning and presenting captions of an HU voice signal during at least a portion of the call, and upon determining that the call is not from one of the first set of HUs, starting the call without captioning and providing an option to the AU to initiate captioning during the call.