An Internet
directory system and method that is based on user
telephone number addressing. The
system includes an interactive white and yellow pages
directory that is based on telephone numbers. Thus, a user's
telephone number is a
unique identifier used to key other information within the
directory. The
telephone number may also be used as the
primary component of an
email address,
domain name, or
web site URL for the user. The use of a telephone number as the
primary component of an e-
mail address or
domain name greatly simplifies the process of locating a user. E-mail addresses and domain names may be readily found using standard telephone information services, such as "411", as well as other telephone-based methods for obtaining telephone directory information. This Internet
directory system and method brings all communication methods and directory services together using one searchable key, a user's telephone number. The
directory entry page may be created, edited and updated by the subscriber using simple
html editing or using a voice
telephone call or via fax, without the use of a
personal computer. Thus, the present invention provides an open directory model wherein the end users construct the directory, and the directory is "living", i.e., dynamically changeable and updateable. The power of the directory is thus placed in the users' hands. The telephone based Internet
directory system of the present invention also provides addressing for
unified messaging as well as locality in addressing.