Method of operating a virtual private network

摘要

A method of operating a virtual private network includes the steps of: (a) dialing a custom number; (b) receiving the custom number at a switch ( 20 ) of a first carrier; (c) routing the call to a switch ( 18 ) of a second carrier based on having received the custom number; and (d) when the call to the switch ( 18 ) of the second carrier includes a plain old telephone number translation of the customer number, routing the call over the second carrier to a service switching point ( 26 ) of a third carrier.