Personalized universal phone service

Abstract

A gateway device couples a mobile telephone with a data network, such as the Internet, for voice communications. The gateway device is configured to provide a consistent interface with a user of the voice communications facility, independent of the method of user-access to the gateway device, and independent of the access to the data network. The gateway device allows for user-access from both wired and wireless telephone instruments, and provides the user a consistent service profile, independent of the location of the user at the time of access. The gateway device provides a service, such as a conventional 'Voice over the Internet' (VoIP) application, that allows the user to place and receive telephone calls to other VoIP users, or to conventional telephone service users. In a preferred embodiment, the user may use a portable gateway device, such as a laptop or handheld computer, to gain access to the data network, or may use publicly available multiple-user gateway devices that are located at airports, hotels, train and bus stations, within transport vehicles such as airplanes, trains, buses, automobiles, and so on. Upon access, the user's service profile, including speed-dial numbers and the like, are provided to the user, via the gateway device currently being used.