Method and system for providing and managing public telephone directory service

An apparatus for use in a directory service is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory configured to store a local directory and a processor configured to manage the local directory, the local directory including a plurality of directory entries organized in a subdomain hierarchical structure, each directory entry being associated with an alias constructed using subdomain hierarchical information, each alias being linked to a user domain associated with a user, the user domain being linked to a record containing contact information for the user.