1. A method comprising the steps of: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing information relating to the call through an interoffice signaling network to a mediation point; based on predetermined criteria relating to the call, selecting one of a plurality of service providers capable of providing an independent service to process the call and sending a second query containing at least some of the information relating to the call to a database of the selected service provider; accessing data in the database of the selected service provider in response to the second query to obtain a call processing instruction; sending a first response containing the call processing instruction from the database of the selected service provider to the mediation point; processing the first response to validate the call processing instruction; sending a second response containing the validated call processing instruction via the interoffice signaling network to the one switching office; and processing the call in accord with the validated call processing instruction to provide a service offered by the selected service provider.