In one embodiment, a telephony system includes a memory that stores one or more call preferences of a user, and a central call routing entity that enables a user to set a call forwarding rule. In accordance with the call forwarding rule and in response to an incoming call to a first telephone device of the user, the call routing entity routing the incoming call to a second telephone device along with a message indicating that the one or more call preferences of the user are stored in the memory. The one or more call preferences are then fetched and applied at the second telephone device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.