Patent ID: 7260189

Claim:
A method to use one or more voice mail messages, respectively, as one or more reminder messages, comprising: receiving a voice mail message at a voice mail server, the voice mail message being created by a voice mail sender, the voice mail message being configured for delivery to a voice mail user; providing, to the voice mail user, an option to review at least one voice mail message; providing, to the voice mail user, an option to review at least one reminder message; delivering the voice mail message to the voice mail user; after delivering the voice mail message to the voice mail user, providing an option of using the voice mail message as a reminder message; receiving a response, from the voice mail user, to the option of using the voice mail message as a reminder message; in response to receiving a positive response to the option of saving the voice mail message as a reminder message, soliciting delivery information for the reminder message; receiving delivery information from the voice mail user, the delivery information including a user-defined delivery time for the reminder message; in response to receipt of the delivery information, setting up the voice mail message as the reminder message for routing based on the delivery information; and re-delivering the voice mail message as the reminder message according to the delivery information.