diff --git a/lib/call.js b/lib/call.js
index 07651be..d8e2df3 100644
--- a/lib/call.js
+++ b/lib/call.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 var util = require('util');
 var stream = require('stream');
+var parseURL = require('url').parse;
 
 var protocols = {
   http: require('http'),
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ var ports = {
  * An API Call
  *
  * @param {RAIL} rail
- * @param {?Object=} opt_options
+ * @param {?(Object|string)=} opt_options
  *
  * @constructor
  * @extends {stream.Writable}
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ function Call(rail, opt_options) {
   this._interceptors = {};
 
   // first plugin event
-  this.rail.emit('plugin-call', this, opt_options);
+  rail.emit('plugin-call', this, opt_options);
 
   // configure the first request
   this.__configure(opt_options);
@@ -54,14 +55,42 @@ util.inherits(Call, stream.Writable);
 module.exports = Call;
 
 
+Call.prototype._urlToOptions = function(options, url) {
+  var parsed = parseURL(url);
+
+  options.proto = parsed.protocol.substr(0, parsed.protocol.length - 1);
+
+  if (options.request) {
+    options.request.host = parsed.hostname;
+    options.request.port = parsed.port;
+    options.request.path = parsed.path;
+  } else {
+    options.host = parsed.hostname;
+    options.port = parsed.port ? parseInt(parsed.port, 10) : null;
+    options.path = parsed.path;
+  }
+
+  return options;
+};
+
+
 /**
+ * @param {Object|string} options
+ *
  * @return {Object}
  */
 Call.prototype.__configure = function(options) {
-  var i, keys;
-  var req = options.request;
+  var i, keys, req;
   var defaults = this.rail.defaults;
 
+  if (typeof options === 'string') {
+    options = this._urlToOptions({}, options);
+  } else if (typeof options.url === 'string') {
+    options = this._urlToOptions(options, options.url);
+  }
+
+  req = options.request;
+
   if (!req) {
     req = options;
   }