Network independent party addressing using a unique identifier linked to network specific addresses

A party is identified with a network independent address. That address is linked to a plurality of network specific addresses. In the context of originating a communication toward that party, the network independent address is used as the dialed address. A context for the origination, which identifies the type of communication being originated (for example, voice call, data call, e-mail, and the like) and/or the network over which the originated communication is to occur, is included with the network independent address in the origination. The network independent address is used to identify the plurality of associated network specific addresses, and the context is used to select a certain one of those network specific addresses. The selected network specific address is then used to route the origination to the party. Completion of the origination using the selected network address may be controlled by either the network or terminal.