System and method for providing communication on a wide area network

Abstract

In a first aspect of the present invention, at least one communication platform is networked to a switched backbone, such as the network commonly referred to as the Internet, and is configured to communicate with and manage at least one network interface, such as a private branch exchange (PBX), and a voice communication module so as to provide telecommunication services that includes voice-over-IP communication between or among communication platform users and call-holding, transferring, forwarding, conferencing, and the like (PBX-like features). The communication platform networked through the switched backbone with other communication platforms. The communication platform is networked to the switched backbone through a first network interface and to telephone lines driven by PBX equipment through a PBX network interface and/or to a telephone compatible network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN) through a telephone network interface. Additional network interfaces may be included to support additional networks such as a local area network separately or in conjunction with other described networks. The communication platform manages the network interfaces, the voice communication module, and the PBX equipment through program control so as to provide telecommunication services which includes providing voice communication between a first user and a second user and PBX-like features. Each user may be on different networks that are networked to the switched backbone via the network interfaces.