A voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) directory service for communications users of an enterprise locates a telephone or work station of a called party for the purpose of setting up real-time communication, either from a pulse code modulation (PCM) telephone or from an Internet protocol (IP) telephone, or a computer by way of the world wide web, using a common directory database. Once the directory entry has been found, it may be immediately called through use of translated addresses assigned to the selected called party device.