The ability to leave detailed, private messages frequently means that callers can relay information without the need for a return call. This is especially useful when you consider that half of all calls are for one-way transfers of information. Voice mail systems also guarantee a common messaging platform within a company. Features such as broadcasting allow employees to send messages to multiple people at once, allowing a voice mail system to serve as a central messaging center for a workgroup or the entire company. Types of Systems Voice mail systems come in two basic designs, PC-based and proprietary.
Most newer systems are PC-based, meaning they use a standard desktop PC as the core of the system.
These systems are then integrated to work with phone systems. The greatest advantage of PC-based systems is their low cost. Because these systems use widely available PC components, they benefit from the lower prices associated with mass production. Most older systems are based on proprietary hardware. These systems are designed from scratch to store voice messages, and typically use operating systems developed specifically for messaging.