Ip-based call answering point selection and routing

A method for Internet Protocol (IP)-based call answering point selection and routing, for connecting a call from a calling device over an IP-based medium to an answering point selected from a plurality of answering points, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a call origination request from the calling device;
• determining an IP address for the calling device;
• determining an caller location for the calling device by looking-up the IP address in a location database;
• designating an answering point from the plurality of answering points to which the call is to be routed responsive to the caller location;
• and
• connecting the call to the designated answering point.

The method of clam 7, further comprising, after the step of determining a caller location, the step of:

• verifying the caller location by:
• determining an identifier location by looking-up an identifier tag associated with the call in the location database;
• determining a location match when the caller location and the identifier location are the same;
• and
• determining a location mismatch when the caller location and the identifier location are not the same.