A feature-function telephone capable of requesting and receiving special function programs from a telephone company is provided. The feature-function telephone includes an EEPROM for storing special function programs. Upon a user requesting a special service, a microprocessor determines whether the special purpose program corresponding to the special service requested is resident in the EEPROM. If it is established by the microprocessor that the special purpose program corresponding to the special service requested by the user is resident in the EEPROM, then the microprocessor sends a special function code to the telephone company and subsequently carries out the special service requested. Otherwise, the microprocessor sends a reconfiguration request to the telephone company. A method for remotely reconfiguring a feature-function telephone is also provided.