France Telecom

Orange Personal Communications Services Limited

Neil Chapman

Lester Andrew Evans

An apparatus for use in a mobile communications system is provided. The apparatus is adapted to store messages for subsequent retrieval by a subscriber of the mobile communications system. The apparatus is further adapted to identify a first subscriber making a call to retrieve a message by using an identification signal automatically forwarded to the apparatus during call establishment. The signal may identify the equipment being used by the subscriber. The apparatus may be further adapted to identify a second subscriber, on receipt of a request from the second subscriber during the call, by using information supplied by the second subscriber during the call.

Mailbox answerphone service for mobile communications

A service module is provided for use in a mobile communications system. The service module provides services to a calling user such as an answering service comprising several individual mailboxes. In various situations, the service module can automatically forward an incoming call to the desired mailbox by using an identification code to allow the user to retrieve or deposit messages. In other situations, the service module is responsive to an indicator during the call by which the user can indicate that the service module did not receive a correct identification code and is therefore required to prompt the user to enter the correct identification code. In other situations, the service module is responsive to an indicator during the call by which the user can indicate whether he/she desires to retrieve a message from his/her mailbox or to deposit a message in another user's mailbox.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Neil Chapman