1. A workstation, comprising: a workstation controller, the workstation controller exchanging information with a central controller, the central controller not located in the workstation; an interface to a long distance telephone network; a user interface, the user interface responding to a telephone call received through the interface to the long distance telephone network and responding to commands from the workstation controller, the commands from the workstation controller originating from the central controller, to make a distributed telephone answering system.