A system and method for managing phone calls enables the call initiator to create a personalized audio or video invitation that the call recipient may review prior to accepting the call, which is immediately connected upon acceptance. Prior to initiating the call, the call initiator's communication device records a personalized audio or video invitation from the call initiator. A peer-to-peer connection is established between the call initiator's communication device and the call recipient's communication device. The call initiator may upload the personalized audio or video invitation to a server for the call recipient to download or stream from the server, or the call recipient may download or stream the personalized audio or video invitation from the call initiator's device via the peer-to-peer connection. Upon receipt of a notification from the call recipient that the call is accepted, a live voice connection between the call initiator and call recipient is established.