A system and method for establishing a telephone call between a calling
party telephone and a called party telephone over a wired network. A
telephone number associated with the called party telephone is monitored
using a telephone status monitor to obtain a status of the called party
telephone. The status of the called party telephone is entered in a
called party telephone status file that is accessible to a calling party
processor over the wired network. The calling party processor dials the
telephone number of the called party telephone when an on-hook status is
detected by the calling party processor so as to establish a telephone
call between the calling party telephone and the called party telephone
over the wired network.