A called-party is provided identity verification of the calling-party during a telephone call. A call request is received for a calling-party to place a call with a called-party. A call management platform or the like associates a passcode with the call request and communicates the passcode to an online network resource and/or a mobile application associated with the calling entity. During the call, in the event the called-party requests identity verification of the calling-party, the called-party is requested to access the online network resource or the mobile application. In response to the called-party logging in to the online network resource or the mobile application, the passcode is communicated from the call management platform to the called-party and is presented with a display of the passcode. The calling-party announces the passcode to the called-party which matches the passcode displayed as a means of verifying the identity of the calling-party.

A called-party is provided identity verification of the calling-party during a telephone call. A call request is received for a calling-party to place a call with a called-party. A call management platform or the like associates a passcode with the call request and communicates the passcode to an online network resource and/or a mobile application associated with the calling entity. During the call, in the event the called-party requests identity verification of the calling-party, the called-party is requested to access the online network resource or the mobile application. In response to the called-party logging in to the online network resource or the mobile application, the passcode is communicated from the call management platform to the called-party and is presented with a display of the passcode. The calling-party announces the passcode to the called-party which matches the passcode displayed as a means of verifying the identity of the calling-party.

A telephone call processor for processing telephone calls comprising voice signals and data signals, the call processor comprising a first telephone interface and a second telephone interface, the call processor being operable in a first mode and in a second mode. In the first mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface and to transmit voice signals and data signals via the second telephone interface. In the second mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface, to block data signals from being transmitted via the second telephone interface and optionally to transmit voice signals via the second telephone interface.

A telephone call processor for processing telephone calls comprising voice signals and data signals, the call processor comprising a first telephone interface and a second telephone interface, the call processor being operable in a first mode and in a second mode. In the first mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface and to transmit voice signals and data signals via the second telephone interface. In the second mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface, to block data signals from being transmitted via the second telephone interface and optionally to transmit voice signals via the second telephone interface.

A method for blocking unwanted calls has been provided. The includes intercepting a call being routed from a calling device to a receiving device. The intercepting occurs prior to the call being presented to the receiving device for an answer. The method further determines further routing of the intercepted call by comparing parameters of the intercepted call to one or more lists. If it is determined that the call should be authenticated, the method sends an authentication challenge to the calling device. If a response is received to the authentication challenge, the method determines whether the response is correct. If the response is correct, the method routes the call to the receiving device.

Systems, methods, circuits, and associated software for managing communications from a mobile device to other parties and retrieving and managing data stored on the mobile device and associated with the communications to other parties. The systems and methods allow a calling party to make a called party be aware of its intention to establish a call/communication session with it in one or more ways. A calling party may be automatically or manually offered alternatives to voice or other communication sessions. Further, many communication alternatives and other data for a party may be stored and organized in a local memory of a device and may be updated based on data retrieved from exterior sources, possibly from third party data storages accessed over a distributed data network, such as the Internet.

Systems, methods, circuits, and associated software for managing communications from a mobile device to other parties and retrieving and managing data stored on the mobile device and associated with the communications to other parties. The systems and methods allow a calling party to make a called party be aware of its intention to establish a call/communication session with it in one or more ways. A calling party may be automatically or manually offered alternatives to voice or other communication sessions. Further, many communication alternatives and other data for a party may be stored and organized in a local memory of a device and may be updated based on data retrieved from exterior sources, possibly from third party data storages accessed over a distributed data network, such as the Internet.

A method and apparatus provide for controlling the user equipment in a telecommunication network having a network control node. A method may be performed at the network control node and a method may also be performed at a user equipment within a telecommunication network. The method performed at the user equipment comprises: receiving an incoming call signal, the incoming call signal comprising a combined automatic answer and loudspeaker activation indication; in response to the incoming call signal, automatically answering the incoming call and activating a loudspeaker on the user equipment.

A method and apparatus provide for controlling the user equipment in a telecommunication network having a network control node. A method may be performed at the network control node and a method may also be performed at a user equipment within a telecommunication network. The method performed at the user equipment comprises: receiving an incoming call signal, the incoming call signal comprising a combined automatic answer and loudspeaker activation indication; in response to the incoming call signal, automatically answering the incoming call and activating a loudspeaker on the user equipment.

A method of establishing communication between mobile terminals includes receiving a communication request from a caller terminal, the communication request including at least a caller number and information for determining an identification code of a callee terminal, the information including a number of the callee terminal or an owner name of the callee terminal. The method also includes obtaining the identification code of the callee terminal based on the information and inquiring about a corresponding record associated with the caller terminal and the callee terminal by use of a pre-stored address book referencing relationship and a communication history, based on the caller number and the identification code of the callee terminal. The method further includes computing a communication right value based on the corresponding record and determining whether the computed communication right value exceeds a pre-determined threshold. In response to a determination that the computed communication right value exceeds the pre-determined threshold, communication between the caller terminal and the callee terminal is established.