Selective pre-authorized credit for incoming calls

A method of selectively issuing pre-authorized credit from a user to an incoming call, said method comprising:

• identifying one or more source identifications (IDs) for receiving pre-authorized credit for the incoming call, said one or more source IDs including at least one of the following:
• a telephone caller ID, an electronic mail (e-mail) address, and an authentication credential identifying a caller;
• specifying one or more destinations to receive the incoming call;
• defining a rule associated with the one or more destinations and the one or more source IDs;
• receiving the incoming call directed to one of the destinations from a caller;
• determining the incoming call and the caller as a function of the one of the destinations, one or more identified source IDs and the defined rule;
• issuing the pre-authorized credit for the incoming call from the caller if it is determined that the incoming call to the destination satisfies the defined rule;
• and
• routing the incoming call from the caller to the user, wherein the caller establishes a connection with the user without being charged for the incoming call.

A system for establishing a connection from a caller to a user using a pre-authorized credit from the user, said system comprising:

• a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions for:
• identifying one or more source identifications (IDs) for receiving pre-authorized credit for the incoming call;
• specifying one or more destinations to receive the incoming call;
• defining a rule associated with the one or more destinations and the one or more source IDs;
• an interface for receiving the incoming call directed to one of the destinations from a caller;
• a storage area for storing the defined rule;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• identifying a source ID from the incoming call;
• determine the incoming call and the caller as a function of the one of the destinations, one or more identified source IDs and the defined rule;
• issue the pre-authorized credit for the incoming call from the caller if it is determined that the incoming call to the destination satisfies the defined rule;
• and
• route the incoming call from the caller to the user, wherein the caller establishes a connection with the user without being charged for the incoming call.