An AIN system having a service switching point (SSP), a service control point (SCP) and an intelligent peripheral (IPe) is disclosed. A calling party makes a call to a called party which results in a trigger signal at the originating SSP. The trigger signal causes the SSP to access the SCP which, in turn, sends a Send_to_Resource message to the SSP. In response to the Send_to_Resource message, the SSP establishes a first connection to an IPe, whose functionality is required. The IPe establishes a second connection carrying a second call to the called party, the first and second calls being connected at the IPe. The IPe subsequently requests that the SSP merge the first and second calls. In response, the call between the called party and the calling party is connected via the SSP, thereby releasing the IPe connections formerly used to connect calling and called parties.