<PAGE>   1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 1999.

                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                      ------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      ------------------------------------

                        GEOTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                    <C> 
                       Delaware                                                    04-3194255
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>
                                   Cross Point
                              900 Chelmsford Street
                           Lowell, Massachusetts 01851
                                 (978) 275-5100
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                      ------------------------------------

    Second Amended and Restated 1998 Non-Executive Employee Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

                      ------------------------------------

                                John C. Thibault
                      Chief Executive Officer and President
                        GeoTel Communications Corporation
                                   Cross Point
                              900 Chelmsford Street
                           Lowell, Massachusetts 01851
                                 (978) 275-5100
           (Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                      ------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:

                              Mark J. Macenka, Esq.
                         TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT, LLP
                       High Street Tower, 125 High Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 (617) 248-7000

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                  --------------------------------------------

================================================================================

<PAGE>   2
                                       -2-


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               Proposed         Proposed
                                                                Maximum          Maximum
                                                   Amount      Offering         Aggregate     Amount of
Title of Securities                                 to be      Price Per        Offering     Registration
to be Registered                                 Registered      Share            Price          Fee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>           <C>             <C>            <C>    
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 NON-EXECUTIVE 
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)           231,600     $27.6875        $ 6,412,425     $ 1,783     
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            72,100     $37.75          $ 2,721,775     $   757
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            68,250     $35.25          $ 2,405,813     $   669
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            10,350     $38.6875        $   400,416     $   112
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            25,500     $38.25          $   975,375     $   272
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            29,600     $41.8125        $ 1,237,650     $   344
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            34,900     $42.375         $ 1,478,888     $   412
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            527,700    $44.15625(1)    $23,302,245     $ 6,478

TOTAL:                                            1,000,000                    $38,934,587     $10,827
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     </TABLE>
(1)  All such shares are issuable upon exercise of outstanding options with
     fixed exercise prices. Pursuant to Regulation C, Rule 457(h)(1) under the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the aggregate offering price and the
     fee have been computed upon the basis of the price at which the options may
     be exercised.

(2)  The price of $44.15625 per share, which is the average of the high and low
     prices of the Common Stock of the registrant reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market on March 26, 1999, is set forth solely for purposes of
     calculating the filing fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) and has been
     used only for those shares without a fixed exercise price.

<PAGE>   3
                                       -3-

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information contained in Part I of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-62777 as pertains to the Amended and Restated 1998
Non-Executive Employee Stock Option Plan is incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference as of their respective
dates:

         (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 filed pursuant to the Exchange Act which contains
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (File
No. 001-12299).

         (b) All other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
the annual report referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The section entitled "Description of Registrant's Securities to be
Registered," contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
filed on October 9, 1996 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act (File
No. 000-21761).

         All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered herein have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

The information contained in Part II of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-62777 as pertains to the Amended and Restated 1998
Non-Executive Employee Stock Option Plan is incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS.

         EXHIBIT NO.     DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

         Exhibit 5.1     Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (filed 
                         herewith).

         Exhibit 23.1    Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained 
                         in Exhibit 5.1).

         Exhibit 23.2    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

         Exhibit 24.1    Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature 
                         page to this Registration Statement).

<PAGE>   4
                                       -4-

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, GeoTel Communications Corporation, certifies that it has reasonable
grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8
and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lowell, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, on this 31st day of March, 1999.

                                  GEOTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
         
                                  By: /s/ John C. Thibault 
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      John C. Thibault
                                      Chief Executive Officer and President


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of GeoTel Communications
Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint John C. Thibault and
Timothy J. Allen, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with
full power to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the
capacities indicated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally to do all things in our names
and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable GeoTel
Communications Corporation, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may
be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement
and all amendments thereto.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          SIGNATURE                              TITLE(S)                              DATE
          ---------                              --------                              ----
<S>                                  <C>                                          <C>   
/s/ John C. Thibault               Chief Executive Officer, President and         March 31, 1999
-------------------------------    Director (Principal Executive Officer)
John C. Thibault                   

/s/ Timothy J. Allen               Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial     March 31, 1999
-------------------------------    Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal
Timothy J. Allen                   Financial and Accounting Officer)          
                                   

/s/ Gary J. Bowen                  Director                                       March 24, 1999
-------------------------------
Gary J. Bowen

/s/ Alexander V. D'Arbeloff        Director                                       March 31, 1999
-------------------------------
Alexander V. d'Arbeloff

/s/ Gardner C. Hendrie             Director                                       March 31, 1999
-------------------------------
Gardner C. Hendrie

                                   Director                                       March   , 1999
-------------------------------
W. Michael Humphreys

/s/ Louis J. Volpe                 Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales       March 31, 1999
-------------------------------    and Marketing, Director
Louis J. Volpe                     

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   5
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT NO.                   DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

    5.1       Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP                   

   23.1       Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained in 
              Exhibit 5.1)                                                 

   23.2       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP                        

   24.1       Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to this 
              Registration Statement)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "GEOTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12520}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GEOTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORP", "cik": "0001023905", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "04319455", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-75647", "film-number": "99586920"}, "business-address": {"street1": "25 PORTER RD", "city": "LITTLETON", "state": "MA", "zip": "01460", "phone": "5084861100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "25 PORTER RD", "city": "LITTLETON", "state": "MA", "zip": "01460"}}
1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 1999.

                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                      ------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      ------------------------------------

                        GEOTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware                                                    04-3194255
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Cross Point
                              900 Chelmsford Street
                           Lowell, Massachusetts 01851
                                 (978) 275-5100
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                      ------------------------------------

    Second Amended and Restated 1998 Non-Executive Employee Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

                      ------------------------------------

                                John C. Thibault
                      Chief Executive Officer and President
                        GeoTel Communications Corporation
                                   Cross Point
                              900 Chelmsford Street
                           Lowell, Massachusetts 01851
                                 (978) 275-5100
           (Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                      ------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:

                              Mark J. Macenka, Esq.
                         TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT, LLP
                       High Street Tower, 125 High Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 (617) 248-7000

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                  --------------------------------------------

================================================================================
2
                                       -2-

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
Proposed         Proposed
                                                                Maximum          Maximum
                                                   Amount      Offering         Aggregate     Amount of
Title of Securities                                 to be      Price Per        Offering     Registration
to be Registered                                 Registered      Share            Price          Fee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 NON-EXECUTIVE 
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)           231,600     $27.6875        $ 6,412,425     $ 1,783     
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            72,100     $37.75          $ 2,721,775     $   757
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            68,250     $35.25          $ 2,405,813     $   669
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            10,350     $38.6875        $   400,416     $   112
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            25,500     $38.25          $   975,375     $   272
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            29,600     $41.8125        $ 1,237,650     $   344
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            34,900     $42.375         $ 1,478,888     $   412
Common Stock (Par Value $0.01 Per Share)            527,700    $44.15625(1)    $23,302,245     $ 6,478

TOTAL:                                            1,000,000                    $38,934,587     $10,827
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  All such shares are issuable upon exercise of outstanding options with
     fixed exercise prices. Pursuant to Regulation C, Rule 457(h)(1) under the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the aggregate offering price and the
     fee have been computed upon the basis of the price at which the options may
     be exercised.

(2)  The price of $44.15625 per share, which is the average of the high and low
     prices of the Common Stock of the registrant reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market on March 26, 1999, is set forth solely for purposes of
     calculating the filing fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) and has been
     used only for those shares without a fixed exercise price.
3
                                       -3-

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information contained in Part I of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-62777 as pertains to the Amended and Restated 1998
Non-Executive Employee Stock Option Plan is incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference as of their respective
dates:

         (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 filed pursuant to the Exchange Act which contains
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (File
No. 001-12299).

         (b) All other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
the annual report referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The section entitled "Description of Registrant's Securities to be
Registered," contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
filed on October 9, 1996 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act (File
No. 000-21761).

         All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered herein have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

The information contained in Part II of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-62777 as pertains to the Amended and Restated 1998
Non-Executive Employee Stock Option Plan is incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS.

         EXHIBIT NO.     DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

         Exhibit 5.1     Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (filed 
                         herewith).

         Exhibit 23.1    Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained 
                         in Exhibit 5.1).

         Exhibit 23.2    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

         Exhibit 24.1    Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature 
                         page to this Registration Statement).
4
                                       -4-

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, GeoTel Communications Corporation, certifies that it has reasonable
grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8
and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lowell, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, on this 31st day of March, 1999.

                                  GEOTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
         
                                  By: /s/ John C. Thibault 
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      John C. Thibault
                                      Chief Executive Officer and President

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of GeoTel Communications
Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint John C. Thibault and
Timothy J. Allen, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with
full power to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the
capacities indicated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally to do all things in our names
and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable GeoTel
Communications Corporation, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may
be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement
and all amendments thereto.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                              TITLE(S)                              DATE
          ---------                              --------                              ----
/s/ John C. Thibault               Chief Executive Officer, President and         March 31, 1999
-------------------------------    Director (Principal Executive Officer)
John C. Thibault                   

/s/ Timothy J. Allen               Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial     March 31, 1999
-------------------------------    Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal
Timothy J. Allen                   Financial and Accounting Officer)          
                                   

/s/ Gary J. Bowen                  Director                                       March 24, 1999
-------------------------------
Gary J. Bowen

/s/ Alexander V. D'Arbeloff        Director                                       March 31, 1999
-------------------------------
Alexander V. d'Arbeloff

/s/ Gardner C. Hendrie             Director                                       March 31, 1999
-------------------------------
Gardner C. Hendrie

                                   Director                                       March   , 1999
-------------------------------
W. Michael Humphreys

/s/ Louis J. Volpe                 Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales       March 31, 1999
-------------------------------    and Marketing, Director
Louis J. Volpe
5
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                   DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

    5.1       Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP                   

   23.1       Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained in 
              Exhibit 5.1)                                                 

   23.2       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP                        

   24.1       Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to this 
              Registration Statement)