Call setup gateway for telecommunications system

摘要

A third-party call setup gateway (90) is provided for setting up bearer channels through a switched telecommunications system, such as a PSTN, by controlling an associated switch (41). The call setup gateway (90) has an interface to the public internet (50). A first user (A) wishing to place a call to a second user (B) sends the call setup gateway (90) both the first user's telephone number (A-telnb) and a personal number (B-Webtel) of the second user. The gateway uses a phone page (49) or a server (51) connected to the Internet (50) to determine the current telephone number for the second user. The gateway then commands the switch to establish a call between the telephones of the first and second users.