A system for processing calls, comprising: a database including configuration information and authentication information for users; an inbound communications controller, coupled to an inbound gateway and the database, the inbound communications controller being adapted to exchange first control signals over a session initiation protocol, SIP, with the inbound gateway based on inbound communications and to generate second SIP control signals based on information in the first control signals and the configuration and authentication information, and using the authentication information to filter authorized callers from unauthorized callers such that authorized callers are directed directly to a called user, while unauthorized or unrecognized calls are directed elsewhere; an outbound communications controller coupled to an outbound gateway, the outbound controller being adapted to exchange fourth control signals with the outbound gateway and to communicate via a real time transport protocol, RTP, with the outbound gateway in order to send the inbound communications outbound over at least one communications network; a central controller, coupled to the inbound and outbound gateways (14, 16), the central controller being adapted to send and receive SIP and RTP signals and to route inbound calls to called users based on each called user's telephone number, wherein the central controller comprises a routing controller adapted to prompt callers for information and instructions; a voicemail database, coupled to the central controller, the voicemail database being adapted to store and retrieve communications and to designate a priority for each caller and their related voicemail so that a voicemail from higher priority callers will be played before voicemail from lesser priority callers; and a switch coupled to the inbound controller, the inbound and outbound communications gateways (14, 16), the voicemail database and the routing controller, the switch being adapted to receive the inbound communications over RTP from the inbound gateway, to exchange the second control signals with the inbound controller, and to route inbound communications based on the second control signals and the routing controller to at least one of the following destinations: the voicemail database; and at least one communications network by sending outbound communications based on the inbound communications to the outbound controller via RTP and exchanging third control signals with the outbound controller, including routing information relating to the outbound communications. a database including configuration information and authentication information for users; an inbound communications controller, coupled to an inbound gateway and the database, the inbound communications controller being adapted to exchange first control signals over a session initiation protocol, SIP, with the inbound gateway based on inbound communications and to generate second SIP control signals based on information in the first control signals and the configuration and authentication information, and using the authentication information to filter authorized callers from unauthorized callers such that authorized callers are directed directly to a called user, while unauthorized or unrecognized calls are directed elsewhere; an outbound communications controller coupled to an outbound gateway, the outbound controller being adapted to exchange fourth control signals with the outbound gateway and to communicate via a real time transport protocol, RTP, with the outbound gateway in order to send the inbound communications outbound over at least one communications network; a central controller, coupled to the inbound and outbound gateways (14, 16), the central controller being adapted to send and receive SIP and RTP signals and to route inbound calls to called users based on each called user's telephone number, wherein the central controller comprises a routing controller adapted to prompt callers for information and instructions; a voicemail database, coupled to the central controller, the voicemail database being adapted to store and retrieve communications and to designate a priority for each caller and their related voicemail so that a voicemail from higher priority callers will be played before voicemail from lesser priority callers; and a switch coupled to the inbound controller, the inbound and outbound communications gateways (14, 16), the voicemail database and the routing controller, the switch being adapted to receive the inbound communications over RTP from the inbound gateway, to exchange the second control signals with the inbound controller, and to route inbound communications based on the second control signals and the routing controller to at least one of the following destinations: the voicemail database; and at least one communications network by sending outbound communications based on the inbound communications to the outbound controller via RTP and exchanging third control signals with the outbound controller, including routing information relating to the outbound communications. the voicemail database; and at least one communications network by sending outbound communications based on the inbound communications to the outbound controller via RTP and exchanging third control signals with the outbound controller, including routing information relating to the outbound communications.