The present invention is directed to a presence aware network 100 that includes a plurality of communication devices 124a n and 128a n, associated with a plurality of subscribers. Each communication device may be configured automatically according to a first set of preferences associated with a first subscriber when the first subscriber performs a telephony function on the communication device and according to a second set of preferences when a different second subscriber performs the telephony function on the communication device. The first and second sets of preferences are different from one another.