Techniques for providing network services at an audio interface unit include determining, based on spoken sounds of a user of an apparatus received at a microphone of the apparatus, whether to present audio data received from a different apparatus. If it is determined to present the received audio data, then presentation of the received audio data at a speaker of the apparatus is initiated. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a data communications bus; and logic encoded in one or more tangible media configured to performs the above steps. In some embodiments, the apparatus does not include a visual display and does not include a keypad of multiple buttons.