Alternative ways to provide access to operations systems that maintain, test, and configure complex telephone networks are being explored. It is suggested that a universal interface that provides simultaneous access to multiple operations systems that execute in different hardware and software environments, can be provided by an architecture that is based on the separation of presentation issues from application issues and on a modular interface management system that consists of a virtual user interface, physical user interface, and interface agent. The interface functionality that is needed to support multiple-application access includes functional views, consistent views, multiple presentations, integration of future presentation technologies, and interface design and customization tools. The author presents these issues, discuss their motivations and implications, and poses several prototype implementations using artificial intelligence methodologies.