Patent ID: 8023630

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving configuration data for a particular telephone set of an enterprise plurality of telephone sets that are associated with an enterprise, wherein the configuration data includes VIM ID data that indicates a voice instant messaging (VIM) group identifier (ID) for a particular group plurality of telephone sets of the enterprise plurality of telephone sets, and local presentation data that indicates how VIM audio data is to be presented on the particular telephone set; receiving a start signal that indicates a start of a new message directed to the particular telephone set over a particular communication channel associated with the VIM ID; and causing VIM audio data to be received over the particular communication channel after the start signal and recorded in association with the VIM ID; if the particular telephone set is not currently in use, causing the VIM audio data to be played over a first speaker on the particular telephone set; if the particular telephone set is currently in use, determining whether to mix the VIM audio data with any different audio data also received at the particular telephone set based on the local presentation data; and if the VIM audio data is to be mixed with any different audio data, causing the VIM audio data to be mixed with the different audio data and played over a second speaker on the particular telephone set.