Apparatus and method for enabling optimized gateway selection for inter-working between circuit-switched and internet telephony

A method of selecting a gateway to support a call from a user of a first network to a user of a second network, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing by a unified location management device in response to a query for location information associated with the user of the second network, said location information used for selecting the gateway, wherein
• in the case of an internet telephony device calling a mobile device, the unified location manager operates as an inbound proxy for a given IP domain to allow selection of a location dependent routable temporary phone number such that a call path from the internet telephony device to the mobile device bypasses the mobile device's home MSC or gateway MSC.

An apparatus for selecting a gateway to support a call from a user of a first network to a user of a second network, comprising:

• a unified location management device for providing location information associated with the user of the second network, in response to a query for said location information used for selecting the gateway, wherein
• in the case of an internet telephony device calling a mobile device, the unified location manager operates as an inbound proxy for a given IP domain to allow selection of a location dependent routable temporary phone number such that a call path from the internet telephony device to the mobile device bypasses the mobile device's home MSC or gateway MSC.