Multimedia automatic call distribution system

The present invention relates to communication systems in general and in particular to multimedia call processing systems. An automatic call distribution system utilizes a number of H.323 compatible devices. An automatic call distribution (ACD) server () interfaces with a computer telephony interface gateway () to route calls to agents or to a music/video server (). Calls are received by a gateway and supplied to a gatekeeper that determines an IP address of the destination. The ACD server selects the destination in response to the number of agents available. In addition, customer calls can be received via e-mail, facsimile or the Internet. The call distribution system can instruct an agent to return an e-mail or facsimile message or to call a customer if desired. Calls from one H.323 device can be routed to another H.323 device by a third party application by sending a call control message to the device's application program interface that executes the message as if it were generated at the device itself.