Patent ID: 7525955

Claim:
A system, comprising: an Internet Protocol (IP) phone coupled to a server, wherein said IP phone is configured to receive contextual information from said server, wherein said IP phone comprises: a memory unit operable for storing a computer program for performing contextual searches; a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises: circuitry for receiving a command to perform a contextual search; circuitry for receiving search criteria; circuitry for submitting said search criteria to said server; and circuitry for receiving from said server a list of merchants matching said search criteria and information regarding each of said merchants in said list; wherein a user of said IP phone completes a transaction with at least one of said merchants listed without the need to generate a voice call; wherein said information received by said user of said IP phone comprises a variety of offers, wherein said user selects one of said variety of offers associated with said one of said merchants listed, wherein said selected offer is transmitted to said one of said merchants listed electronically; and wherein said user's contact and payment information is not transmitted to said one of said merchants listed, wherein said user's contact and payment information is available to said one of said merchants listed.