Reverse call origination via a packet switched network

Abstract

A telephone call is originated in a reverse direction, i.e., from a called party to a calling party, using a packet switched network. According to one embodiment of the invention, a calling party located in a first country may wish to place a call to a party in a second country having cheaper telephone rates. To benefit from the cheaper telephone rates of the second country, the calling party sends a data message—via a packet switched network—to a service provider in the second country requesting reverse call origination. The request message may be sent to an electronic mailbox maintained by the service provider and located on a global computer network, such as the Internet. The service provider of the second country, upon receiving the message, dials the destination number of the called party supplied in the request message. After reaching the called party, the service provider of the second country dials the calling party and bridges the call between the two parties. The calls thus originate from and are billed at the lower telephone rates of the second country. In another embodiment of the present invention, a telephone call may originate from a service provider of a country having lower telephone rates even though the called and calling parties are located at other respective countries.