A system includes a server including one or more databases for storing one or more handling rules specifying handling of incoming telephone calls; an intermediary routing control unit configured to access the one or more databases responsive to an incoming telephone call and provide the one or more handling rules to a switch control unit for handling routing of the incoming telephone call, said switch control unit being on a signaling path of the incoming telephone call; wherein the server and intermediary routing control unit are external said signaling path.