A communication system has a plurality of user terminals, operable by a corresponding pourality of users, connecting means, a "personal assistant" server and a "personal assistant" terminal. The "personal assistant" terminal is connected to the "personal assistant" server and operated by a human "personal assistant". Any of the users, using his(her) user terminal, can contact (call) the human assistant, via the personal assistant terminal, to obtain information and/or other services. The server is connected to a user database which contains user data for all the users, with that data containing user-specific data and settings. The server, on detecting a call from any one of the user terminals to the personal assistant terminal, accesses the user data form the database and associated with the calling user. That data is provided to the personal assistant terminal. The server is also connected to a data system which is accessible and operable through the "personal assistant" terminal and responds to the accessed user data. The data system can be e-mail system, a diary system, an information systems, an SMS system, a fax system, a unified messaging system, etc.