Method and apparatus for placing a long distance call based on a virtual phone number

A system for establishing a communications link, comprising:

• a computer server that is operatively connected to a data network and that acts as a first intermediate point in the data network, where the computer server is configured to:
• means for receiving receive a virtual telephone number at a first intermediate point from an originating point, the first intermediate point being operatively connected to a data network;
• and
• means for transmitting transmit a call setup request over the data network from the first intermediate point to a second intermediate point, wherein the call setup request includes the virtual telephone number or its equivalent, and wherein information in the call setup request allows the second intermediate point to establish a communications link to a destination point that corresponds to the virtual telephone number.

A system for facilitating at least a portion of a telephony communication between an originating point and a destination point, comprising:

• a first intermediate point comprising at least one processor that is configured to receive a communication setup request from a second intermediate point, wherein the communication setup request includes a virtual telephone number received from the originating point, wherein the virtual telephone number corresponds to a physical number associated with the destination point;
• and
• a first routing table that comprises a part of the first intermediate point, wherein the first intermediate point is configured to use the communication setup request and information in the first routing table to determine an identity of the destination point;
• wherein the first intermediate point facilitates the telephony communication, at least in part, by receiving the communication setup request over a data network from the second intermediate point.

A method of facilitating at least a portion of a communication link between an originating point and a destination point, comprising:

• receiving, from the originating point, a virtual number at a first intermediate point, wherein the virtual number corresponds to the destination point;
• determining an identity of a second intermediate point capable of communicating with the destination point based on a proximity of the second intermediate point to the destination point;
• and
• sending a communication setup request to the second intermediate point over a data network, the communication setup request including the virtual number.