A communication system enables a call from a calling party to a called party to be completed directly. In a preferred embodiment, a calling signal is directed to a central office including a switch for receiving the calling signal at a first port. The central office also includes a switch controller in communication with the switch, the switch connecting the switch controller to the calling signal. The switch controller obtains a called party identifier from the calling party, creates a call request signal that includes the switching information and the called party identifier causing a switch transmitter to transmit the call request signal to the called party and when the called party responds with a call acceptance signal, at a second port, connects the second port to the first port, thereby completing the call. |