Systems, methods, and computer program products for improved personal communications

摘要

An improved message processing system for processing personal communications messages is provided. The improved message processing system provides integrated messaging systems which are located to allow callers to access the integrated messaging systems using local telephone calls and to otherwise provide decentralized services and an enhanced service platform located remotely from the integrated messaging systems to provide centralized services. The improved message processing system provides centralized conference call, facsimile service, text-to-speech conversion, and other services centrally at a reduced cost to the subscriber. The integrated messaging systems and the enhanced service platform communicate over temporary dial-up connections and also low speed data networks. In addition, the integrated messaging system also enables a subscriber to selectively block messages before they are received in order to avoid costs associated with unwanted messages or calls. The unwanted messages are selectively blocked based on the location of the caller, the type of equipment that the caller is using, or the location of the caller and the type of equipment used by the caller. The selective blocking feature may be overridden by the subscriber as well as dynamically altered by the subscriber.