A communication system in accordance with the present invention includes at least
one network appliance device (3415) which is coupled to a network (3402).
The network appliance device (3415) includes software for detecting incoming
calls and initiating call sessions in accordance with a signaling protocol. The
system further includes a wireless communication gateway (3410) coupled
to the network (3402) for allowing the network appliance device (3415)
to communicate in accordance with a wireless network protocol. The wireless communication
gateway (3410) includes, or is coupled to, a communication proxy (3405)
for translating messages between the signaling protocol and the wireless network
protocol. In one exemplary embodiment the signaling protocol takes the form of
the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and the wireless communication protocol takes
the form of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).