The telephone system of the invention combines at least one telephone terminal (40 to 43) and one microcomputer (38 to 40) using a set of software modules, especially a module for functions normally carried out by top range telephone stations: free hand functions, recorder telephone answering sets, fax/modems, storage of numbers, automatic dialling, display on the screen of a microcomputer, and/or a module for services normally centralised for a large number of users, and/or a module concerning new functionalities: Internet/Intranet access, vocal recognition, automatic reading, small capacity unit automatic exchanges.