Telephone directory information is obtained and telephone calls are placed with a telephone, a telephone directory memory storing signals representing names and telephone numbers of subscribers, a display, a QWERTY keyboard and special keys. The microprocessor responds to signals from a telephone keyboard, the QWERTY keyboard and special keys and is coupled with the memory and display so the memory is provided with signals causing names and telephone numbers of subscribers in the memory to be displayed. A modem connected to the microprocessor supplies a telephone dialing signal of the subscriber telephone number on the display to a telephone line in response to activation of keys of the keyboards and a signal from the memory. The memory includes a large permanent memory storing long term subscriber directory data and a smaller non-permanent memory storing recent subscriber data. The modem supplies the non-permanent memory with updated names and telephone numbers of recent subscribers derived from a central station. In response to activation of different combinations of keys on the keyboards and the special keys, the display is provided with (1) simultaneous display of names, phone numbers and addresses in response to a keyboard entered name, (2) an address and name in response to a keyboard entered phone number, and (3) simultaneous display of names and phone numbers in response to a keyboard entered address.