System and method for allowing virtual private network users to obtain presence status and/or location of others on demand

A non-transitory machine readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed cause a system to perform the steps comprising:

• receiving a request from a caller for a call to a callee via a virtual private network, wherein the virtual private network is based on a public telecommunication infrastructure, and wherein the caller is connected to the VPN;
• obtaining at least one of presence status and location information of the callee, wherein said presence status and location information indicates whether said callee is connected to the VPN or is connected directly to a central network;
• and
• allowing the caller to make a decision on whether or not to proceed with the call.

A system for supporting virtual private networking, comprising:

• one or more microprocessors;
• a virtual private network based on a public telecommunication infrastructure running on the one or more microprocessors, wherein the virtual private network operates to perform the steps of:
• receiving a request from a caller for a call to a callee via a virtual private network, wherein the virtual private network is based on a public telecommunication infrastructure, wherein the caller is connected to the VPN;
• obtaining at least one of presence status and location information of the callee, wherein said presence status and location information indicates whether said callee is connected to the VPN or is connected directly to a central network;
• and
• allowing the caller to make a decision on whether or not to proceed with the call.