Patent ID: 7313229

Claim:
A method of arranging for an electronically-recorded message to be delivered to a communication medium of a second user at a selected time, said method comprising: recording the message by a first user on a stand-alone communication device in direct connection to a telephone line as customer premises equipment; inputting an access code on the stand-alone communication device for accessing the communication medium of the second user; indicating a delivery time for delivery of the message from the stand-alone communication device to the communication medium of the second user, wherein the message is selectable for retraction by canceling delivery of the message before the delivery time; storing a plurality of groups of named recipients under user-defined categories and assigning each of the plurality of groups with a specific alphanumeric code; determining whether each recipient of the message should receive the message at the same time; and determining individual delivery instructions if any recipient should receive the message at a different time, wherein the first user is distinct from the second user; wherein the communication medium is a voicemail mailbox; and wherein the access code is a voicemail mailbox number.