Patent ID: 8750465

Claim:
A system providing communication of recorded voice messages over a network among a plurality of users having voice communication devices, the network including a voice message server connected to the network, comprising: a receiver constructed to receive from a sending user's communication device, over the network, a voice message signal including a header component identifying the sending user and intended recipient user, and a recorded voice message component; storage means storing voice message components in association with the corresponding header component; a transmitter constructed to transmit a received header component to the communication device of the intended recipient identified in the header component, the transmitter transmitting the corresponding voice message component to the recipient user's communication device only in response to the recipient user's communication device requesting the same; an executable program running on a user's voice communication device, constructed to: record a user's voice message and create a voice message component therefrom; based on user input, create a corresponding header component; create the voice message signal and communicate it to the voice message server; receive from the voice message server a header component of a voice message signal from another user; and responsive to user input, requesting from the voice message server a voice message component of a voice message signal from another user; and an interface at the server sensing when the recipient of a voice message does not have the executable program running on the recipient's communication device and providing a warning indication, a further transmitter responsive to the warning indication to transmit to the recipient over a public network a notification that the recipient has a voice message waiting, and a further receiver responsive to a call back from the recipient over the public network to transmit the voice message to the recipient.