System and method for providing integrated messaging

Abstract

A voice server and method for providing integrated voice mail and email messaging for use with an email server and an email client. The voice server includes a telephone interface means for providing telephone services to the voice server, a network interface means for providing communications between the voice server and each of the email server and email client, a processor, and a program memory for storing program instructions for controlling the processor to provide voice mail messaging services for a plurality of voice mailboxes. At least one voice mailbox on the voice server is adapted to create a message reference to uniquely identify each recorded voice mail message and to send each message reference to an email address on the email server, where the message can be retrieved by the email client. The voice server is further adapted to provide voice mail services corresponding to each recorded voice mail message, to the email client through the network interface means. Alternatively, the voice server may include at least one voice mailbox that is adapted to forward each recorded voice mail message as part of an email message, to a designated email address on the email server, where it can be retrieved by the email client. The email message in this alternate embodiment is adapted so that the email client can play the voice mail message.