A method and network that employs N attendant, messaging and content-based speech systems networked together to transfer call sessions via a VoIP bi-directional link. To enhance network performance, each of the N systems of the network includes an extension database having N city or system directories identifying the extensions and the names associated with such extensions. The caller is given a prompt to provide the network a city where the target resides. Thereafter, the network determines the target's extension by directly accessing the appropriate directory.