A method for identifying a fraudulent phone number is provided. The method includes receiving a user report dataset indicating fraudulent activity corresponding to a phone number, and responsive to receiving the user report dataset, identifying a record in a database corresponding to the phone number. The method further includes tagging the record to identify the phone number as being associated with fraudulent activity.

A method including: receiving a user report dataset indicating fraudulent activity corresponding to a phone number; responsive to receiving the user report dataset, identifying a record in a database corresponding to the phone number; and tagging the record to identify the phone number as being associated with fraudulent activity.

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.

A method and apparatus for reducing the cost of long distance phone calls is disclosed. Accordingly, an originating phone network is operatively connected to a first intermediate point, and a receiving phone network is operatively connected to a second intermediate point. Each intermediate point is operatively connected to communicate via a data network. Users on the originating and destination phone networks may communicate based on virtual numbers. The virtual number is preferably within the local calling area of the originating phone network. The first and second intermediate points route calls to any geographic location, regardless of distance, over the data network based on the virtual number. This provides the advantage of allowing a user on the originating phone network to access a user at a distant location for a price that is substantially similar to the price of a local call.

A method for identifying a fraudulent phone number is provided. The method includes receiving a user report dataset indicating fraudulent activity corresponding to a phone number, and responsive to receiving the user report dataset, identifying a record in a database corresponding to the phone number. The method further includes tagging the record to identify the phone number as being associated with fraudulent activity.

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.

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.

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.

One embodiment relates to a method for establishing communication between at least one calling terminal and one called terminal, implemented by the calling terminal. The method comprises detecting the activation by the calling terminal of a request to establish a communication with the called terminal, obtaining a first piece of communication context information related to the calling terminal, and obtaining at least a second piece of communication context information related to the called terminal. The method also comprises determining a communication service to use in order to establish the requested communication with the called terminal, the determining being carried out from at least the first piece of communication context information and the second piece of communication context information, and sending, to the called terminal, a request for communication according to the determined communication service.

A method of controlling free phone calls places from within a secured premises through an institutional phone system generally includes assigning a unique access identifier to an individual caller upon entry into the secured premises; receiving a destination number front the individual caller within the secured premises, the destination number being associated with a telephone located outside the secured premises; determining if the destination number is a per se free number, and, if the destination number is not determined to be a per se free number: receiving the unique access identifier from the individual caller; validating the unique access identifier; and, if the unique access identifier is valid, processing a telephone call to the destination number.