Method and apparatus for telecommunications network routing

In order to place a communication device rapidly in communication with a destination, the preferred device is operable upon activation to dial a carrier direct, i.e., "cut through" number in order to place the device directly in communication with an interexchange carrier (IC). This eliminates the need and thus, the time, required for the local exchange carrier (LEC) to access a database in order to identify the IC from the NPA portion of a dialed number. By using automatic number identification (ANI), the IC determines that the calling number is associated with a particular device and, in response, automatically retrieves and routes a number for the called destination, thereby avoiding additional transaction time for translating a dialed, toll-free number into a ten digit on-net number.