A call control entity communicates with Internet Protocol (IP) phones over a network. Responsive to a request from a new IP phone that is to replace an existing IP phone, the call control entity determines there is no existing IP phone record for the new IP phone. In response, the call control entity acquires from the new IP phone a directory number associated that is to be used when making calls with the new IP phone, and searches for an existing IP phone record for the existing IP phone based on the directory number. When the existing IP phone record is found, the call control entity creates for the new IP phone a new IP phone record associated with the directory number, copies existing configuration information from the existing IP phone record to the new IP phone record, and configures the new IP phone with the existing configuration information.