Methods and systems for providing an absent addressing service to customers in a communications network

Disclosed is an apparatus for providing an absent addressing service (i.e. call forwarding, voice messaging, and the like) for subscribers normally connected to a H.323 compliant network. Some network entity, such as a subscriber's gatekeeper, intercepts all set-up calls to subscribers requiring such a service. If the subscriber is properly registered, the set-up call is forwarded to the subscriber. Otherwise messages are delivered, in accordance with the configuration of the network gatekeeper, whereby the calling party becomes connected to an absent addressing service rather than the originally called terminal of the subscriber.