METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING QUASI-MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICE

摘要

A telephone system and method allowing a user to set up landline calls using a mobile telephone. A user initiates outgoing calls by inputting into the mobile phone the phone numbers of a remote phone of a called party and a local landline phone convenient for use by the user. A message containing these phone numbers is sent by the mobile telephone to a remote telephone call origination platform, which establishes a bridging connection between the remote phone and the local phone. An incoming call is received by signaling the user of an incoming call on the mobile phone. The user inputs the number of a convenient landline phone into the mobile phone, which in turn signals the remote telephone call origination platform to forward the incoming call to the designated landline phone. The system and method are adaptable to PBX systems. Advantages of both mobile and landline phones are combined, and calling cardlike billing/charging can be provided without the inconvenience of inputting calling card numbers and identification codes.