Voice messaging system which retrieves and stores voice messages from another voice messaging system

摘要

Apparatus and method to provide downloading and retrieval of a voice message from a voice mailbox of a voice messaging system associated with a telephone company central office for storage and playback by a telephone answering device at the user's home or office. The telephone answering device includes a voice mail retrieval module which automatically communicates with the central office in response to the receipt of a voice message waiting indicator (VMWI) or similar signal. Alternatively, the voice messages may be downloaded upon request by the user, e.g., by activating an appropriate button or sequence of buttons on the telephone answering device. The voice messages may be downloaded from the central office in digital or analog form. <IMAGE>